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Effect Of A Faith-Based Initiative On Hospital Readmissions, Joseph Webb Jan 2013

Effect Of A Faith-Based Initiative On Hospital Readmissions, Joseph Webb

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EFFECT OF A FAITH-BASED INITIATIVE ON HOSPITAL READMISSIONS JOSEPH WEBB ADMINISTRATION-HEALTH SERVICES ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between a faith-based initiative and hospital readmissions. The main data source used was the inpatient data-base of Methodist LeBonheur Healthcare System (MLH) in Memphis, TN. Data were collected from admissions that occurred during years 2008 through 2012 at four of MLH's five adult acute-care hospitals. Data from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey were also used in the study. This study uses theoretical tenets from the Social Justice and Equity Theory and the Chronic Care Model …


Hur Regulation In Central Nervous System Disorders, Crystal G. Wheeler Jan 2013

Hur Regulation In Central Nervous System Disorders, Crystal G. Wheeler

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In inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system (CNS), astrocytes play a major role in the systemic response to disease by either enhancing or limiting the inflammatory response through secretion of growth factors or cytokines. HuR RNA binding protein regulates many genes involved in inflammation. Inflammatory diseases such as brain tumors, Amylotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), and Multiple Sclerosis (MS), have been linked to HuR, by our laboratory and others. To determine whether astrocytic overexpression of HuR would regulate inflammation in diseases of the CNS, we designed a transgenic mouse in which the HuR gene is overexpressed. In the first study, …


Insulin Resistance, Lipids, And The Metabolic Syndrome Trait Cluster: Impact Of Race And Very Low Calorie Diet, Veeradej Pisprasert Jan 2013

Insulin Resistance, Lipids, And The Metabolic Syndrome Trait Cluster: Impact Of Race And Very Low Calorie Diet, Veeradej Pisprasert

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Insulin resistance (IR) is central to the pathogenesis of cardiometabolic disorders. Early detection, along with appropriate interventions, is paramount to reduce the morbidity and mortality of IR-related diseases. The gold standard measurement for IR is the hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp, which is markedly sophisticated for clinical evaluation but costly and invasive for clinical practice. Several alternative surrogate indicators of IR have been identified and used by clinicians, including insulin sensitivity indices derived from plasma glucose and insulin values, as well as other indicators that are independent of direct insulin measurements. In addition, lipid panel and lipoprotein subclass profile have emerged as markers …


The Relationship Between Inflammatory Biomarkers And Cognitive Function In Older Adults, Andrea C. Sartori Jan 2013

The Relationship Between Inflammatory Biomarkers And Cognitive Function In Older Adults, Andrea C. Sartori

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Recent literature indicates associations between inflammation, aging, and cognitive function. Inflammatory processes have also been implicated in the onset of pathological and neurodegenerative conditions. Current study aims were to examine the associations between inflammatory biomarkers and cognitive function in older adults, and to explore the interrelationships of inflammatory biomarkers, depressive symptoms, health conditions, and cognitive function. Two studies were utilized for the current project: 1) a cross-sectional sample of sedentary older adults aged 65+ from the Physical and Cognitive Exercise Study (PACES; n=54); and 2) a longitudinal study (UAB Study of Aging) of community-dwelling older African Americans and Caucasians (n=393). …


An Examination Of The Feeding Preferences Of The Freshwater Amphipod Hyalella Azteca For Aquatic Vascular Plants And Macro Algae: The Potential Roles Of Prey Nutrional Quality, Chemical And/Or Structural Defenses, Kevin Emmanuel Scriber Jan 2013

An Examination Of The Feeding Preferences Of The Freshwater Amphipod Hyalella Azteca For Aquatic Vascular Plants And Macro Algae: The Potential Roles Of Prey Nutrional Quality, Chemical And/Or Structural Defenses, Kevin Emmanuel Scriber

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Many factors influence the palatability and feeding preferences of predators for their prey. The present study tested the null hypothesis that the common freshwater amphipod Hyallela azteca presented three species of vascular plants and two species of filamentous algae displayed feeding rates indicative of no differences in prey palatability. Differences in prey palatability were found and pairwise-choice feeding assays were conducted and preferences for particular foods established. Subsequent feeding bioassays using standard techniques demonstrated that tissues of the vascular plant Vallisneria americana were chemically defended against amphipod grazing, and that extracts from this vascular plant could inhibit feeding by amphipods …


Development And Validation Of A Survey Instrument To Assess Health Information-Seeking Behaviors Among African-Americanyoung Professionals, Shauntice Allen Jan 2013

Development And Validation Of A Survey Instrument To Assess Health Information-Seeking Behaviors Among African-Americanyoung Professionals, Shauntice Allen

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The lay public has had more opportunities than ever before to take an active role in their own health care. Despite these opportunities, many questions remain regarding the basis for barriers relating to seeking preventive health information. Following publication of the report of the Secretary’s Task Force of Black and Minority Health, health education researchers have documented health disparities among populations of color, in particular African Americans (United States Department of Health and Human Services, 1985). Brashers, Goldsmith, and Heish (2002) pointed out the complexity of health information-seeking behaviors (HISB) and highlighted the increasing need to clearly understand the process …


The Role Of Autosomal Dominant Retinitis Pigmentosa Rhodopsin Mutant Ter349glu In Rod Cell Biogenesis And Retinal Inflammation, Tj Hollingsworth Jan 2013

The Role Of Autosomal Dominant Retinitis Pigmentosa Rhodopsin Mutant Ter349glu In Rod Cell Biogenesis And Retinal Inflammation, Tj Hollingsworth

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Retinitis pigmentosa is one of the most common inherited blinding disorders, affecting 1 in 4000 individuals world-wide. Approximately 30% of retinitis pigmentosa cases are dominantly inherited and approximately 30% of these dominant mutations are found in rhodopsin. Most rhodopsin mutations result in misfolded protein aggregates and subsequent apoptosis while others have been shown to result in apoptosis associated with mislocalization, diminished/enhanced activity, or faulty protein-protein interactions. This work serves to test for mechanisms by which the naturally-occurring Ter349Glu rhodopsin mutation causes rod cell death. Ter349Glu rhodopsin was tested for the ability to bind the ligand 11-cis retinal, photoactivate, and activate …


The Alabama Promise To Improve Student Achievement: A Phenomenological Study Of Torchbearer Principals, Stacey P. Gill Jan 2013

The Alabama Promise To Improve Student Achievement: A Phenomenological Study Of Torchbearer Principals, Stacey P. Gill

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STACEY P. GILL EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP ABSTRACT This study examined leadership characteristics from the perspective of urban school leaders in high-poverty and high-achieving schools in the state of Alabama in order to better understand their relationship to student achievement. Principals were selected from three school sites in three urban school districts located in central and southern Alabama. The study's theoretical framework was drawn from change theory, transformational leadership, instructional leadership, and the effective schools movement. A phenomenological approach was used to understand the essence of the phenomenon, in this instance, urban school leaders' and teachers' perceptions of Torchbearer leadership characteristics, was …


The Impact Of Weight Status On The Adoption Of Self-Care Behaviors Among Heart Failure Patients, Bern'nadette Knight Jan 2013

The Impact Of Weight Status On The Adoption Of Self-Care Behaviors Among Heart Failure Patients, Bern'nadette Knight

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Self-care is a major component of heart failure management. Excess weight is a disease that may negatively affect a patient's ability to effectively practice self-care. The project aimed to assess 1) the relationship between weight status and heart failure self-care behaviors and 2) the modification of the relationship between social support and heart failure self-care by weight status. This cross sectional study utilized baseline data from a cohort of African-American and Caucasian participants diagnosed with heart failure. The heart failure cohort was formed from three larger studies (n=690) designed to assess the relationships among social support, self-care behaviors and hospital …


The Flow Of The Social: Developing A Constructal Systemic Approach To The Study Of Health Inequalities, William A. Anderson Jan 2013

The Flow Of The Social: Developing A Constructal Systemic Approach To The Study Of Health Inequalities, William A. Anderson

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Society is a dynamic, living system. People, groups, institutions, and cultures are intricately interconnected. Changes in one area of society create changes in other areas. Causes and results may be closely linked or separated by time and space. Sociologists readily acknowledge this dynamic reality. However, our mainstream theories and methods often fail to account for it. Even after decades of research into social inequalities in health, medical sociology still seems far away from being able to offer any definitive ideas about why such inequalities exist and persist despite efforts to alleviate them. Medical sociology (and sociology in general) is centered …


Uptake Of Antenatal Care Services And Pregnancy Outcome In Kumasi, Ghana, Asundep Ntui Jan 2013

Uptake Of Antenatal Care Services And Pregnancy Outcome In Kumasi, Ghana, Asundep Ntui

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A prior study reported a 44.6% prevalence of adverse pregnancy outcomes in Kumasi, Ghana. This study investigated factors that may influence antenatal care (ANC) utilization and their association with adverse pregnancy outcomes; defined as low birth weight, stillbirth, preterm delivery or small for gestational age among pregnant women in Kumasi. A quantitative cross sectional study of 643 women, age 19-48 years who presented for delivery at select public hospitals and private traditional birth attendants from July through November 2011 was conducted. Information on socio-demographic characteristics and other factors associated with ANC attendance was collected using a structured questionnaire. Medical and …


Obesity, Prediabetes, And Perceived Stress In Municipal Workers, Louise Camilleri O'Keefe Jan 2013

Obesity, Prediabetes, And Perceived Stress In Municipal Workers, Louise Camilleri O'Keefe

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Obesity and diabetes are major contributors to morbidity and mortality in the United States. According to the American Public Health Association and Partnership for Prevention, obesity is growing faster than any other public health problem in the United States. The prevalence of diabetes has also increased significantly with an estimated 79 million Americans aged 20 years or older suffering from prediabetes. Few studies have examined the influence of perceived stress on obesity and prediabetes among working adults. Investigations are needed to examine factors that can contribute to higher health care costs for both employees and employers. The aims of this …


Environmental Specific Effects On Life History And Energy Metabolism Traits In A Permethrin Resistant Strain Of Anopheles Gambiae, Dennis Otali Jan 2013

Environmental Specific Effects On Life History And Energy Metabolism Traits In A Permethrin Resistant Strain Of Anopheles Gambiae, Dennis Otali

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Widespread use of pyrethroids for control of malaria vectors together with use in agriculture for pest control has led to an increase in emergence of populations of pyrethroid resistant phenotypes. Insecticide resistance can likely alter vector development time, reproduction, behavior, and longevity, all of which can affect the potential for disease transmission. In this study we assessed whether the genetic modifications (kdr mutation, cytochrome P450 and esterase detoxification) in a permethrin resistant strain of An. gambiae influence traits related to fitness. The performances of these traits were compared between two strains of An. gambiae, one permethrin susceptible (ASEMBO1) and the …


Urban Kindergarten Teachers' Perceptions Of Former Head Start Students And Their Readiness For School, Stephanie Hardy Parker Jan 2013

Urban Kindergarten Teachers' Perceptions Of Former Head Start Students And Their Readiness For School, Stephanie Hardy Parker

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The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore the experiences and instruction of kindergarten teachers in an urban school district who are teaching students who were previously enrolled in a Head Start program. Eleven kindergarten teachers who taught in an urban school district in the southeastern United States participated in this study. Data sources collected for this multiple case study included: (a) semi-structured interviews, (b) observations, and (c) curriculum documents. Results from the study revealed mixed experiences teaching former Head Start students. While some teachers expressed positive experiences teaching former Head Start students, others indicated teaching former …


The Effect Of Incentive Strategy On Health Behaviors And Outcomes In The Workplace, Lindsay M. Sutton Jan 2013

The Effect Of Incentive Strategy On Health Behaviors And Outcomes In The Workplace, Lindsay M. Sutton

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This study examined participation, engagement, and achievement of health-related targets under two sequentially administered wellness programs for approximately 2,000 full-time city personnel of a Southern municipal government. Program A utilized paper fliers and community posters as the primary communication strategy and incented employees for achieving 3 health outcomes only by a lump-sum, one-time monetary reward distributed at the end of the year. Program B subsequently utilized a web-based site where employees logged into individualized accounts and received points that accrued for both completing behaviors and achieving health outcomes. Both electronic and paper communication strategies were utilized to as primary mediums …


Effects Of Light Spectra And Uv Radiation In Relation To Dietary Carotenoids On The Sea Urchin Lytechinus Variegatus, James Christopher Taylor Jan 2013

Effects Of Light Spectra And Uv Radiation In Relation To Dietary Carotenoids On The Sea Urchin Lytechinus Variegatus, James Christopher Taylor

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An important factor in the marketability of sea urchin gonad is color. A marketable color is suggested to be dependent upon the in vivo accumulation of red and yellow carotenoid pigments within the gonad. Carotenoids obtained through the diet can be modified in sea urchins, but the function of these carotenoids is unknown. We hypothesize that differential light exposure can affect carotenoid deposition and, as a consequence, gonad color in sea urchins. We performed two experiments to determine if light spectra affect gonad color of Lytechinus variegatus. In the first experiment, urchins were fed a formulated feed supplemented with or …


Blood Pressure And Tobacco Exposure Among Rural Adolescents Ages 15-18, Luz Huntington-Moskos Jan 2013

Blood Pressure And Tobacco Exposure Among Rural Adolescents Ages 15-18, Luz Huntington-Moskos

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High blood pressure is a prevalent precursor to cardiovascular disease. An estimated 3% of US adolescents have hypertension. In addition, prehypertension is predictive of hypertension in adolescents, with progression between these stages at approximately 7% per year. Tobacco use/exposure is strongly linked to cardiovascular risk and disease in adults. Further, rural communities have higher tobacco use prevalence and fewer community policies restricting tobacco use. Little is known about the effects of tobacco exposure on blood pressure and the mediating effects of inflammation (salivary C-reactive protein (CRP)) in rural adolescents. The purpose of this study is to determine the relationships between …


Predictors Of Physical Activity In Child And Adolescent Survivors Of Cancer, Margaux Barnes Gilliam Jan 2013

Predictors Of Physical Activity In Child And Adolescent Survivors Of Cancer, Margaux Barnes Gilliam

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Childhood cancer survivors are at increased risk for future health problems. As such, physical activity (PA) has been targeted as a health promotion priority in child and adolescent cancer survivors. Despite research suggesting PA has protective health benefits, a large proportion of survivors do not meet PA recommendations. Development of effective interventions to increase PA in pediatric cancer survivors requires an understanding of the processes that determine survivor PA. Research on the determinants of PA in child and adolescent survivors is sparse, with most research focusing on late adolescent, young adult, and adult survivors of childhood cancer. The following papers …


Prevalence Of Overweight And Obesity In Classic Rett Syndrome., Kathrine Clova Grigsby Jan 2013

Prevalence Of Overweight And Obesity In Classic Rett Syndrome., Kathrine Clova Grigsby

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Introduction: Rett syndrome (RTT) is a genetic, neurodevelopmental disorder that displays high incidence of growth failure, variations in body composition, feeding/gastrointestinal complications, and undernutrition. The ongoing Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network (RDNCRN) Rett Syndrome Natural History Research Project has yielded observations regarding the less recognized occurrence of overnutrition in adult females with classic Rett syndrome. The purpose of this study was the determine the prevalence of overweight/obesity in children and young adults with classic Rett syndrome, the percent overweight and obese among adults with classic Rett syndrome, and to determine if the prevalence of overnutrition increases after the puberty years …


Socioeconomic Status, Social Relationships, And Higher Weight Status, Anthony David Campbell Jan 2013

Socioeconomic Status, Social Relationships, And Higher Weight Status, Anthony David Campbell

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This thesis serves two main research objectives. The first objective is to examine the extent to which higher weight status is patterned by indicators of socioeconomic status. The second objective is to explore the involvement of social relationships in the association between socioeconomic status and weight status. I use a theoretical framework incorporating aspects of fundamental cause theory and insights from the literature on social relationships and health. Data for this study were obtained from the 2003-2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (n = 3,957). The analytic sample focused on Black and White respondents over the age of 40. …


Targeting Ovarian Cancer Through Epigallocatechin Gallate And Sulforaphane Combinational Treatment, Huaping Chen Jan 2013

Targeting Ovarian Cancer Through Epigallocatechin Gallate And Sulforaphane Combinational Treatment, Huaping Chen

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The cellular development of resistance to chemotherapy contributes to the high mortality noted in patients affected by ovarian cancer. Novel compounds that can enhance efficacy of conventional chemotherapy or target both drug-sensitive and -resistant ovarian cancers directly are highly desired. Previous epidemiological studies indicate that consumption of green tea and cruciferous vegetables is inversely associated with occurrence of ovarian cancer. Therefore, revealing the effects and mechanisms of major components of green tea (epigallocatechin gallate, EGCG) and cruciferous vegetables (sulforaphane, SFN) on ovarian cancer cells will provide necessary knowledge for developing potential novel treatments for the disease. Since drug resistance generation …


Blood Pressure Control And Perceived Stress, Job Satisfaction, Life Satisfaction, And Perceived Health Status In Municipal Workers, Debra D. Baldwin Jan 2013

Blood Pressure Control And Perceived Stress, Job Satisfaction, Life Satisfaction, And Perceived Health Status In Municipal Workers, Debra D. Baldwin

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Although hypertension is highly prevalent, associated with serious health consequences and treatable, fewer than half of those with hypertension have achieved blood pressure control (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2011b). Limited studies have examined the influence of perceived stress, job satisfaction, life satisfaction, and perceived health status may have on blood pressure control, although epidemiological evidence reveals psychological factors can mediate and negatively influence health behavior leading to hypertension (Blanchflower & Oswald, 2008; Kulkarni, Farrel, Erasi, & Kochar, 1998; Walcott-McQuigg, 2000). The purpose of this study was to explore the prevalence of hypertension, obesity, and blood pressure control …


Anti-Group B Streptococci Monoclonal Antibodies Protect Against Invasive Aspergillosis, Rebekah Wharton Jan 2013

Anti-Group B Streptococci Monoclonal Antibodies Protect Against Invasive Aspergillosis, Rebekah Wharton

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Aspergillus fumigatus is a ubiquitous saprophytic fungus which can potentially cause life-threatening infections in immunocompromised individuals. Although a serious threat, current treatments are largely ineffective at reducing morbidity and mortality. To this end, we have characterized a monoclonal antibody generated against Group B Streptococci, type Ib, which also recognizes Aspergillus fumigatus conidia and hyphae. We show that this antibody appears to bind a similar epitope on both pathogens and provides a significant degree of protection in a murine model of invasive aspergillosis via a mechanism that appears to be dependent on complement. The studies we performed using this antibody should …


Use Of Social Ecology And Mixed Methods Research To Develop An Instrument To Assess Determinants Of Hiv/Sti Risk Among A Young Adult Population, Lasonja Bonita Kennedy Jan 2013

Use Of Social Ecology And Mixed Methods Research To Develop An Instrument To Assess Determinants Of Hiv/Sti Risk Among A Young Adult Population, Lasonja Bonita Kennedy

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Globally, 340 million people are affected by HIV/AIDS. Approximately 50,000 are newly infected within the United States each year with HIV. One in five of those infected is unaware of his/her status. Young adults are particularly impacted by the disease; 39% of new HIV infections are diagnosed in individuals between the ages of 13 and 29. To comprehensively examine the independent and interrelated determinants of HIV/STI risks among young adults, the researcher developed, validated, and psychometrically examined a self-report instrument guided by constructs from the Social Ecological Model (SEM). Development and validation of the content within the survey was conducted …


Hepatitis B Vaccination Among High-Risk Adults: Results From The National Health And Nutrition Examination Survey (Nhanes), 2007-2010, Hope S. King Jan 2013

Hepatitis B Vaccination Among High-Risk Adults: Results From The National Health And Nutrition Examination Survey (Nhanes), 2007-2010, Hope S. King

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Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection can be prevented and controlled through vaccination. However, only 24%-50% of high-risk adults in the United States (U.S.) have been vaccinated against HBV infection. Methods: Data were analyzed from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) for two time periods, 2003-2006 (n=6459 adults) and 2007-2010 (n=6652 adults) to (1) assess the prevalence of hepatitis B vaccination uptake and the intrapersonal, interpersonal, and organizational level factors that may be associated with receiving hepatitis B vaccination among U.S. adults and (2) assess whether any changes occurred in the prevalence of and factors associated with hepatitis …


Hard On Your Heart: A Qualitative Description Of Adolescent Prenatal Stress, Candace Clayton Knight Jan 2013

Hard On Your Heart: A Qualitative Description Of Adolescent Prenatal Stress, Candace Clayton Knight

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Introduction: Pregnancy during adolescence is potentially stressful due to the concurrent tasks of navigating the typically tumultuous adolescent stage of development and the life altering experience of pregnancy (Kaye, 2008). There is a growing body of research linking prenatal stress to poor birth and developmental outcomes such as premature birth and low birth weight infants (K. Keenan, Sheffield, & Boeldt, 2007; Mulder et al., 2002), which makes describing the relatively unexplored perceptions and experience of stress during adolescent pregnancy important. The life course framework, with its emphasis on social, environmental, and family risk factors, has implications for reducing disparities among …


Temp, Callie Gartrell Mauldin Jan 2013

Temp, Callie Gartrell Mauldin

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Temp is a collection of short stories about four young women living in New York City. Each woman struggles with her own identity while tethered to a family past that informs her current situation. Through failures and flirtations with disaster, Hannah, Anna, Liz, and Rachel learn how to accept themselves and the lives they've been dealt. The stories, ultimately, explore loss and acceptance through connections and relationships with others.


Cooking With Caste Iron: Food System Modernization In Birmingham, 1910-1964, Thomas Carl Mclemore Jan 2013

Cooking With Caste Iron: Food System Modernization In Birmingham, 1910-1964, Thomas Carl Mclemore

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This thesis aims to capture the social and political conditions that contributed to the rise of class and racial disparities in Birmingham's food system. The way in which all Birmingham residents located, grew, raised, purchased, cooked, and consumed food reinforced and furthered a caste system of social dispossession and black oppression. An overview of the poor health conditions of the pre-modern, industrial city provides a basis for understanding the reasoning of later efforts in systematic modernization. These efforts took place amid broader, national contexts of political and social Progressivism and the emerging paradigm of the New South. These trends contributed …


Apparent Change In Obesity-Mortality Associations: Methodological Issues In Survival Analyses With Censored Outcomes, Tapan Shirish Mehta Jan 2013

Apparent Change In Obesity-Mortality Associations: Methodological Issues In Survival Analyses With Censored Outcomes, Tapan Shirish Mehta

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Analyses of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) have suggested that the mortality rate (MR) associated with obesity has decreased over calendar time. However, there has been conflicting evidence about the apparent change in the obesity-MR over calendar time. This dissertation investigates some of the empirical and methodological issues involved in assessing the longitudinal change in the obesity-mortality associations. In the first manuscript, Obesity and Mortality: Are the Risks Declining? Evidence from Multiple Prospective Studies in the U.S., a multiple longitudinal design is proposed and implemented to evaluate whether the obesity-mortality associations have declined over calendar time after …


Msx1 Mutations And Their Binding Interactions, Divakar Prakash Jan 2013

Msx1 Mutations And Their Binding Interactions, Divakar Prakash

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Orofacial clefting (OFC), also called cleft lip and/or palate, is the most common congenital birth anomaly that involve the craniofacial region in humans. The etiology of Non-Syndromic OFC (NS-OFC) is complex and multifactorial; a slew of genetic mutations, standing alone or in combinations, along with several environmental factors, play a major role in the disease process. Numerous linkage and association studies in humans, as well as expression studies and knockout mouse models, have implicated Muscle segment homeobox gene 1 (MSX1), which encodes a homeodomain/DNA binding domain (HD) containing transcription factor as a strong candidate contributing to NS-OFC and Tooth Agenesis …