Digital Commons Network^™

Inhibition Of Escherichia Coli Atp Synthase By Polyphenols And Their Derivatives., Prasanna Keerthi Dadi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

We have studied the inhibitory effect of natural and structurally modified polyphenols on Escherichia coli ATP synthase to test (I) if the beneficial dietary effects of polyphenols are related to their inhibitory actions on ATP synthase, (II) if inhibitory effects of polyphenolic compound could be augmented through structural modifications, and (III) if they can act as antimicrobial agent through their actions on ATP synthesis. X-ray crystal structures of polyphenol binding sites suggested that polyphenols bind at a distinct polyphenol binding pocket, at the interface of α,β,γ-subunits. We found that both natural and modified polyphenols inhibit E. coli ATP synthase to …

Assessing Commercial Organic And Conventionally Grown Vegetables By Monitoring Selected Heavy Metals Found In Them., Charles Kafui Dotse

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Commercially available organic and conventionally grown vegetables were studied by quantitative determination of selected metals in them and to determine if any differences found are statistically significant. These findings can help the consumers to determine if the vegetable products are within the recommended maximum limits as proposed by the joint FAO/WHO Expert committee on organic foods designation. Eight edible vegetables were purchased from local stores in both the organic and conventionally grown categories. Samples were digested with concentrated nitric acid and the metals monitored were zinc, copper, lead, iron, cadmium, and nickel using flame atomic absorption. The concentration range for …

At-Risk Indicators: The Impact On School Success., Lisa Wynn Stewart

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The hope of educators is that children will obtain a strong educational foundation that will lead to life-long learning and a bright future. However, several factors may play a role in hindering a successful outcome. Addressing the at-risk indicators of excessive absences, discipline referrals, socioeconomic status, disability status, early grade retention, and family composition gives insight into struggles students face.

Looking at 6 research questions, an independent sample t test was used to determine the difference in students who had excessive absences and discipline referrals in relation to school success. A chi-square analysis was used to identify the relationship between …

Political Accommodation: The Effects Of Booker T. Washington's Leadership And Legacy On Tuskegee University And The Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment., Dominique Dubois Gilliard

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this re-evaluation of the Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment, I identify the original causes that made the Study emerge, examine why the intent of this research shifted over time, reveal the manner in which the Study was conducted, expose the role the government played in the manipulation of the Experiment, and, finally, investigate the ways, as well as the reasons, for the selection of the participants involved in the Study. After exploring the Experiment itself, I investigate the lasting effects of it on the community in which it occurred and the ways in which it further affected the relationship between African …

Disclosure, Social Reactions To Disclosure, And Mental Health Outcomes Among Adult Child Sexual Abuse Victims., Holly E. Hopson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a frequent problem in American society associated with a wide range of negative mental health outcomes. Some evidence suggests that disclosure may moderate the relationship between CSA and mental health. However, the specific reactions a victim receives following disclosure may directly affect the impact that disclosure has on mental health. The current study directly and simultaneously evaluated the roles of disclosure and social reactions in relation to mental health outcomes. The sample consisted of 652 undergraduate students at East Tennessee State University who completed an on-line, self-administered questionnaire. Forty-four (6.75%) of the participants reported experiencing …

Isolation And Identification Of The Siderophore "Vicibactin" Produced By Rhizobium Leguminosarum Atcc 14479., William H. Wright Iv

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Siderophores are small, iron chelating molecules produced by many bacteria to help meet the iron requirements of the cell. Multiple metabolic functions require iron as it serves as a cofactor in many enzymes and cellular processes. However, in the presence of oxygen and at physiologic pH, iron forms insoluble ferric complexes that cause the nutrient to be unavailable to bacterial cells. Siderophores alleviate this limitation by chelating the ferric iron, rendering it soluble and available for uptake. One group of microorganisms known for their ability to produce siderophores is the rhizobia. These bacteria are characterized both by their formation of …

Resistance Training Increases The Expression Of Ampk, Mtor, And Glut4 In Previously Sedentary Subjects And Subjects With The Metabolic Syndrome., Andrew Steven Layne

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Exercise has been considered a cornerstone of diabetes prevention and treatment for decades, but the benefits of resistance training are less clear. Nineteen non-diabetic subjects (10 metabolic syndrome, 9 sedentary controls) underwent 8 weeks of supervised resistance training. After training, strength and V̇ O_2max increased by 10% in both groups. Percent body fat decreased in subjects with the metabolic syndrome. Additionally, lean body mass increased in both groups (p<0.05). Expression of glucose transporter protein-4 (GLUT4), the principle insulin-responsive glucose transporter, increased significantly in both groups. 5-adenosine monophosphateactivated protein kinase (AMPK) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) expression increased in both groups, indicating increased protein synthesis and mitochondrial biogenesis. Markers of insulin resistance measured by a euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp did not improve in subjects with the metabolic syndrome but increased significantly in control subjects (13%). Resistance training upregulates intracellular signaling pathways that may be beneficial for ameliorating the metabolic syndrome.

Critical-Incident Response: A Study Of Training, Management, And Mitigation In North Carolina Sheriffs' Offices., Gregory Alan Minton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the amount of training each sheriff's office requires in North Carolina and if that training includes multiagency exercises designed to mitigate a critical-incident response and identify any concerns from those training events. The study also compared departmental strength (number of sworn officers per agency) with county populations and geographic area of the state the agency is located in with the number of hours required annually by each agency. Finally, each agency was asked if it had participated in a multiagency exercise and a multiagency incident and to identify any issues that occurred …

The "Oprah Effect": A Content Analysis Of Media Coverage Of Toni Morrison And How The Coverage Changed Post-Oprah., Mariah J. Childress

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The present study analyzes the way in which Toni Morrison, an established author, was covered by U.S. newspapers in the year before and year following her selection for Opraha's Book Club. The content analysis method was used in the research, and the results were used to test 6 hypotheses and 6 research questions.

The results indicated that there was a significant increase in the total number of mentions of Toni Morrison in the year after her inclusion in Opraha's Book Club. The overwhelming trend that was seen in all variable comparisons was that while there were obviously more mentions of …

A Family-Based Association Study Of Conduct Disorder., Xueqiu Jian

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Conduct disorder (CD) is a psychiatric syndrome in childhood and adolescence that is one of the most common childhood disorders with continuously increasing prevalence but uncertain pathogenesis. We performed a genome-wide, family-based association study of CD using P2BAT/FBAT software. The data is gathered from Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism (COGA) and International Multi-Center ADHD Genetics Project (IMAGE).

Using COGA data, we identified 20 markers which showed suggestive associations (p<10^-3) with CD. Nine of them are located in known genes. Two genes, ADAM10 and CAMK2A, which had been reported associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD), bipolar disorder, …

A Safeguards Design Strategy For Domestic Nuclear Materials Processing Facilities., Jonathan Long

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The outdated and oversized nuclear manufacturing complex within the United States requires its transformation into a smaller, safe, and secure enterprise. Health and safety risks, environmental concerns, and the end of the Cold War have all contributed to this necessity. The events of September 11, 2001, emphasized the protection requirements for nuclear materials within the U.S. as well as abroad.

Current Nuclear Safeguards regulations contain minimal prescriptive requirements relating to the design of new production facilities. Project management and engineering design guides require that design documents contain specific and measureable statements relating to systems requirements. The systems engineering process evaluates …

The Effects Of An Actiped Pedometer Intervention Program On Body Composition And Aerobic Capacity Of Youth In A School System In East Tennessee., Kristie Russell Coleman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to determine if the ActiPed Pedometer Intervention Program would sustain or improve aerobic capacity or body composition scores over a 12-week period for students ages 8-12 in a school system in East Tennessee. Obesity is an epidemic in Tennessee and in the United States. In fact, Tennessee has the 5^th highest obesity rates for youth in the United States. National and State Legislations with physical activity and wellness mandates are being passed at an alarming rate as the need to combat the obesity epidemic is astonishing. The responsibility to decrease the obesity rates …

Bum Hunters : The Simulations And Neutralizations Of Negative Actions Taken Against The Homeless On Youtube., Elizabeth Anne Griffith 1986-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Due to of the rise in numbers of persons experiencing homelessness, communities are working to restrict access that homeless individuals have to public spaces. Many cities across the nation have criminalized aspects of homelessness in attempts to 'beautify' the areas. Starting in 2001, four videos were created and sold illustrating "bum fighting" in which homeless people were depicted fighting or performing stunts in return for alcohol and/or drugs (NCH, 2007). The National Coalition for the Homeless directly links the release of these videos to the increase of attacks against the homeless, many videotaping the ordeal, imitating the original videos. In …

Health Promotion Self-Efficacy Of Belizean Nurses : Variables Influencing Condom Use Promotion To Women To Prevent Hiv/Aids., Whitney A. Nash

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation is a descriptive, correlational study that explores how a nurse's personal sexual relationship power, vicarious experience, and other interpersonal and socio-cultural variables are related to her self-efficacy to promote and teach condom use to women to reduce the risk of contracting HIV/AIDS. How these variables are related among a specific subset of nurses with lower sexual relationship power is also examined. Self-efficacy theory, specifically portions of Dr. Albert Bandura's work is used to guide this exploration. Chapter 1 introduces the problem of HIV/AIDS in Belize; the role of power, and selected issues surrounding women and HIV/AIDS. Chapter 1 …

In Vitro Detection Of Mesio-Buccal Canals In Maxillary Molar Cross-Sections Using Three Different Resolutions With Kodak 9000 3d Cbct., Jolanta Nowicka Sauer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

CBCT in endodontics demonstrates anatomic features in 3D that intraoral, panoramic, and cephalometric images cannot. CBCT units reconstruct the projection data to provide interrelational images in three orthogonal planes (axial, sagittal, and coronal). In addition because reconstruction of CBCT data is performed natively using a personal computer, data can be reoriented in their true spatial relationships. Aims: To investigate accurate detection of the correct number of root canals in the mesio-buccal root of the maxillary molar teeth using 3D imaging with cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) at different spatial resolution (isotropic voxel) settings. Methods: With IRB approval, 31 extracted maxillary …

The Changing Discourse Of Death : A Study Of The Evolution Of The Contemporary Funeral Industry., Lisa Suzanne Crabtree 1980-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Within a cultural context of postmodernism and individualization, funerals in America have taken on a new appearance amidst increased freedom of expression and diminished adherence to tradition. This thesis examines how the funeral industry has evolved along with these social and cultural changes. Articles randomly selected from a leading funeral industry trade journal, Mortuary Management , are explored utilizing a combined quantitative content and qualitative textual analysis approach. Examination of selected articles (1963-2009) reveals that the funeral industry has steadily attempted to maintain sociocultural relevance through adaptation to a postmodern ethos of informalization and mercuriality. Possible mitigating factors for identified …

Examining The Dissemination Of Innovations In The Sporting Goods Industry., Marion E. Hambrick

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

US consumers spend $87 million annually on sporting goods and services (National Sporting Goods Association, 2008). Each year sporting goods manufacturers also spend millions of dollars creating innovative products for consumers looking to improve their playing performances and enjoyment of the sport (Reisinger, 2002). Manufacturers want to receive adequate returns on their research and development investments and create innovations consumers support and want to buy (Berman & McLaughlin, 1973). To facilitate the dissemination of innovations, manufacturers provide information about their innovations to increase product awareness and help consumers make informed purchasing decisions (Rogers, 2003). The purpose of the current study …

Technology-Driven Heart Failure Management System : Changes In Functional Capacity And Quality Of Life., Venkata S. Chilakapati

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background . Heart failure treatment guidelines emphasize the importance of daily weight monitoring. To support this practice, the Health Care Financing Administration Heart Failure Demonstration Project (2000) was designed to evaluate the effect of technology driven monitoring of daily weight and symptoms in elderly HF patients (NYHA class II to IV). This sub-study is conducted to assess the effect of a technology driven HF monitoring system on clinically meaningful change in functional capacity and quality of life (QOL). Methods . This is a randomized, multi-centered, controlled clinical trial in which Medicare beneficiaries with a history of hospitalization within one year …

Database Development For Community Service., Erin Cummings 1987-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

At the University of Louisville, there is no continuous and dependable connection between the needs of the community for expert help in solving practical problems and the capabilities of the students enrolled in cumulating experience courses. Culminating experience courses are designed to provide students with experience in real and pragmatic problem-solving situations. Connecting these courses with community needs not only provides students with such experiences but also betters the community. A database instituted on the University of Louisville website would be a regular and continuous medium for such connections to be made. In this research, a database created by computer …

Predictors Of Risk For Child Neglect Among Expectant First-Time Mothers And Their Partners., Bertha M. Mucherera

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The study purpose was three-fold: finding a point of entry for primary prevention of child neglect, assessing for child neglect risk level for both first-time mothers and their partners, and individuals opinions about establishing and administering a multi-dimensional family assessment tool prior to birth. This study utilized a non-experimental, cross-sectional design to survey 250 first-time expectant mothers and their partners, attending Lamaze Classes at a public hospital in Lexington, Kentucky. Participants completed a 97-item questionnaire comprised of eleven different measures identifying individual personal (Attachment Theory) and situational characteristics (Ecological Theory). Results indicated that this particular population was predominately White Caucasian …

Predictors Of Depression In African American Men And Their Implications For Community And Individual Focused Interventions., Michael A. Robinson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: In any given year depression affects as many as 121 million people worldwide and 20 percent or 19 million people in the U.S. suffer from at least one episode of depression during their lifetime. In the U.S., depression has a substantial impact on the economy. It is estimated that $17 billion dollars in salary and/or equivalent compensation is lost due to missing work days, caused by major depression. Depression is considered a highly prevalent condition that can lead to significant functional impairments, such as absenteeism and work productivity and problems with activities of daily living. This study focuses on …

Unfulfilled Potential : A Case Study Of Traditional News Media And The Internet., Brenna Loraine Angel 1984-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Internet offers a tremendous opportunity for traditional media to expand and/or enhance news stories. This thesis is an exploration of the convergent journalism practices of three news organizations in a medium-sized market. It employed content analysis and in-depth interviews to compare the news stories of a newspaper, television station, and radio station with content on each organization's Internet website. While the three media organizations in this case study had different approaches to convergent journalism, they each utilized some type of multimedia technique on their websites including slideshows, videos, audio, hyperlinks, and reader interactivity. For the most part, however, online …

A Phase Ii Two Stage Clinical Trial Design To Handle Latent Heterogeneity For A Binary Response., Christopher Noel Barnes

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Phase II clinical trial are generally single arm trial where a homogeneity assumption is placed on the response. In practice, this assumption may be violated resulting in a heterogeneous response. This heterogeneous or overdispersed response can be decomposed into distinct subgroups based on the etiology of the heterogeneity. A general classification model is developed to quantify the heterogeneity. The most common Phase II trial design used in practice is the Simon 2-stage design which relies on the assumption of response homogeneity. This design is shown to be flawed under the assumption of heterogeneity with errors exceeding the target trial errors. …

Experiential Learning : A Review Of College Health Centers., Elizabeth J. Greaney

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This exploratory study was conducted using a descriptive design and examined the use of college health centers for academic internships and clinical rotations. In addition, the study examined the relationship among health center director and school characteristics and the presence of academic internships or clinical rotations and the directors' satisfaction with these activities. The population consisted of 267 health center directors responding to a survey containing 21 questions. The demographics of the directors consisted of 64 (24%) males and 203 (76%) females; school classifications; 106 (39.7%) Research/Doctoral, 68 (25.5%) Masters, 87 (32.6%) and 3 (1.1%) Associates/Community College, 147 (55.1%) Public …

Context Matters : A Multilevel Analysis Of Patterns Of Mobility To Non-Poor Neighborhoods For Poor Renter Households., Stacy M. Deck

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this longitudinal, multilevel study was to develop a better understanding of poor renter households' mobility patterns by identifying the relative importance of individual and contextual variables. Variability in neighborhood poverty rates (NPR) was analyzed for 1564 poor, renter households living in 179 metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) across the continental U.S. during the 1990s. Household heads were typically black (73%), middle age (mean=37 years) females (59%) who had 12 or fewer years of education (77%). Each household completed three to nine Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID) surveys. Using geocodes, census data were linked with survey data to …

Representational Crisis In Psychiatry : Corporate Hegemony And Postmodern Knowledge, James Andrew Whitaker

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this thesis, I have undertaken a sociology of knowledge study pertaining to the corporate construction of psychiatric knowledge in relation to biomedicalization. I have conceptually connected the “crisis of representation” in psychiatry with the larger alteration of knowledge within postmodernity. I have defined postmodernity as itself a more general “crisis of representation.” Both of these representational crises are viewed as emerging from the transformation of political economic realities in the course of the twentieth-century. A discussion is undertaken to explicate the nature of this transformation and its relation to previous analogous transformations. I have undertaken a content analysis study …

Teaching Efficacy, Innovation, School Culture And Teacher Risk Taking., Margaret Elizabeth Taylor

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation is an exploratory study of teacher risk taking. The risk-taking literature in education and other types of organizations is lacking in studies exploring the concept of healthy risk taking and how that risk taking is related to other concepts such as organizational culture, innovation, and efficacy. The purpose of this study was to explore the concept of teacher risk taking as it relates to teaching efficacy, school culture, and organizational support for innovation. The research design of this study utilized a five-section survey administered to 740 public and private school teachers from 53 schools in 9 Midwestern states. …

Vincent Van Gogh, A Formal And Psychological Analysis Of The Final Years At Arles, Saint-Remy And Auvers., Sue Ann Grey 1943-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation is an intensive analysis of the artworks and letters of Vincent van Gogh focusing on the final three years of his life from February 1888 to July 1890 at Arles, Saint-Rémy, and Auvers. The author is both an art historian and an art therapist, so this is an interdisciplinary dissertation. Chapter one, the introduction, provides the theoretical background for this paper, discussing the words and images of Vincent van Gogh, and setting forth the thesis statement: The thesis statement of this dissertation is that variations in the psychological state of Vincent van Gogh are discernable be psychoanalytical analysis …

The Effects Of Betadine®, Polyvinylpyrrolidone (Pvp), And Iodine On Regeneration In The Planarian Dugesia Tigrina., Traci R. Shaffer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The freshwater planarian has a great capacity to regenerate and is an ideal animal model in the study of stem cell and regeneration biology. In this study planarian regenerating new tails were exposed to nonlethal doses of Betadine®, Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), and Iodine. Betadine® is a topical antiseptic commonly used in the healthcare setting and may have a detrimental effect on wound healing. PVP is linked to iodine to create povidone-iodine, the active ingredient in Betadine®. Initially, a preliminary test was performed on the worms to determine the nonlethal concentrations of these chemicals . After this nonlethal concentration was determined, tails …

Placebo Effect For Low Back Pain : A Meta-Analysis., Matthew Aaron Lanham 1982-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates the placebo effect in randomized controlled trials of low back pain. This effect has not been analyzed over time or in respect to low back pain. A meta-analysis was performed using the Pubmed/Medline database for low back pain RCTs with a placebo group. It was shown that in studies using the visual analogue scale (VAS) and the numeric rating scale (NRS-11) that there is a positive placebo effect. While the VAS mean change appears consistent up to 6 months, the limited number of studies available (30, n=1150), did not allow certain time periods to be investigated. For …