Digital Commons Network^™

Harness Therapeutic Potential Of Immune Responses: Molecular Characterization And Targeted Delivery, Nan Ji

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The immune system plays a crucial role in protecting the body from harmful pathogens and cancer cells and maintaining tissue homeostasis. Immunotherapy has shown significant potential in treating various diseases by harnessing the therapeutic potential of immune responses through the targeting of different immune cells, receptors, and signaling pathways. This dissertation investigated two immune modulators for their immune-enhancing potential.In the first chapter, the components of innate immunity are introduced. In the second chapter, Immulina, a commercially available extract of Arthrospira platensis enriched with Braun-type proteins, was studied for its immunostimulatory effect in mouse bone marrow-derived dendritic cells and macrophages. The …

Understanding Financial Toxicity Among Adult Cancer Survivors In The Us, Siddhi Korgaonkar

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The term ‘financial toxicity’ (FT) has been used to describe cancer-related financial hardship and psychological distress experienced by cancer survivors. FT can be detrimental to the health and wellbeing of cancer survivors due to its multifarious adverse effects.

This dissertation strives to advance extant knowledge on cancer-related FT research by investigating three key questions: 1. How have the trends in the direct total and out-of-pocket (OOP) healthcare expenditures, and OOP financial burden of US cancer survivors aged 18-64 years evolved between 2008 – 2019? 2. What are the self-reported HIL levels among adult cancer survivors aged 27-64 years in the …

The Impact Of Increasing Dietary Levels Of Hybrid Rye On Growing-Finishing Pig Performance, Carcass Characteristics, And Meat Quality, Caitlyn Sullivan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this trial was to determine the effects of increasing dietary levels of hybrid rye on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and product quality of growing-finishing pigs. A total of 2,400 barrows and gilts (FAST x PIC 800, initial wt. 44.9 kg) were utilized, as pigs were randomly assigned to one of the four dietary treatments. Diets were corn-soybean based and hybrid rye replaced corn at 0, 40, 70, or 100%. All diets were formulated to meet or exceed the 2012 NRC requirements for all nutrients and fed through a five-phase feeding program (44.9 to 125 kg, respectively). Pigs …

Feeding Strategies To Improve Gastrointestinal Health And Growth Performance Of Confinement Fed Ruminants, Forest Laine Francis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this dissertation was to investigate how feed additives, orally administered direct fed microbials, and dietary management strategies may be beneficial in improving gastrointestinal health and growth performance of confinement fed ruminants. Four studies were conducted using confinement fed steers (n = 3) and wether lambs (n = 1) to determine the effects of the products and management strategies used. The first study was conducted on finishing steers to investigate the effects of increasing doses of an encapsulated butyric acid and zinc supplement (BZ) on growth performance, efficiency of dietary net energy utilization, carcass characteristics, and gastrointestinal health. …

Genome-Wide Association Studies And Advanced Genomic Selection Strategies: Towards The Optimization Of Oat (Avena Sativa L) Breeding, Girma Ayana

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Oats are important cereal crops worldwide, primarily valued for their nutritional and health benefits. The primary goal of oat breeding programs is to accelerate genetic gain to develop oat varieties with the desired product profiles, with the aim of meeting the needs and expectations of growers, processors, and consumers. Achieving this goal involves conducting extensive and resource-intensive field trials, particularly for traits such as crop yield and grain quality, which are strongly influenced by environmental factors. The availability of cost-effective molecular markers and tools like genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and genomic selection have the potential to accelerate the oat breeding …

Develop Biochar-Based Control Release Nitogen Fertilizers Using Biodegradable Polypropylene, Abdulkarim Aldekhail

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Nitrogen (N) is an indispensable key nutrient for crop plant growth, health, and yield, which significantly affects crop productivity. N fertilizers are wildly utilized in agriculture. Managing N application stands as a necessity to achieve optimal crop yield. Urea is one of the most common N fertilizers in agricultural practices due to its high N content and cost-effectiveness. Due to its commercial scale, feasibility, and reliability, it is demonstrating potential as a medium to improve agricultural sustainability. However, economic challenges, and environmental pollution remain as setbacks. This research focuses on selecting cost-effective and environmentally friendly coating materials for the fabrication …

Extraction, Characterization, And Utilization Of Yellow Pea Starch, Abdulmalik Albu Tuwaybah

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Dry peas, a leguminous crop, are one of the world's oldest crops, accounting for 35–40% of total pulse trade. Pea starch is an inexpensive source of starch since it can be obtained as a by-product of protein extraction. Recovering the starch from protein isolation streams (i.e., before or after) improves the environmental impact of the protein isolation process. The goal of the study was to transform low-value pea starch into highvalue starch through starch extraction and food application. Two methods of starch extraction were used (47.5% ethanol treatment and SC CO2 + EtOH extraction). Starch samples were analyzed for chemical, …

Impact Of Virtual Fence Technology On Yearling Steer Behavior, Performance, And Energetic Expenditure, Logan Riley Vandermark

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Beef cattle production in the U.S. is largely dependent upon extensive rangelands like the Northern Great Plains. Solutions are needed to meet both the demand of animal-based protein products for a growing world population and the desire for producers to manage for several different ecosystem functions. Virtual fencing (VF) is an emerging precision technology that has the potential to revolutionize livestock management on extensive rangeland systems. However, the need to quantify animal behavior and performance differences using emerging precision technologies, like VenceTM, is ever growing. Thus, the objective of this research was to determine the impact of virtual fencing on …

Comparison Of Self-Reported Depression And Anxiety Scores Between U.S. Households With And Without Children At Early And Later Stages Of The Covid-19 Pandemic, Hanan Mohammed Eissa Jamali

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Parents in particular, are disproportionately affected by the 2019 coronavirus pandemic and the lockdowns that followed. Parents had to find a way to balance work, teaching, and taking care of their kids when schools were forced to close for safety reasons. While changes in parents' mental health have been the subject of a number of studies, there have been no studies comparing the level of depression and anxiety experienced by parents with and without children below the age of 18 years in the United States. Data for this study came from Households Pulse Survey (HPS) (week 2 N = 41,996; …

The Effects Of Body Weight, Feed Intake, And Weather On Total And Liquid Water Intake In Growing Beef Cattle, Madison Rae Kovarna

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Research conducted in the 1950s to determine water requirements utilized cattle that vary greatly from the animals being raised today. Additionally, most of the previous research has been conducted on animals being fed for slaughter, rather than bulls or reproductive females. The objective of this study was to analyze the effect of weather variables, dry matter intake (DMI), and body weight (BW) on total daily water intake (TDWI) and liquid daily water intake (LDWI) in growing beef bulls and heifers. Two contemporary groups of Angus and Simmental x Angus bulls and heifers over a two-year period were utilized in this …

Customer Experience With Service Robots In Hospitality And Tourism: Scale Development, Olena Ciftci

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: This study aims to create a measurement scale of customer experience with service delivered by robots in hospitality and tourism settings to address the industry need and gap in the academic literature.

Methods: This study follows a widely accepted psychometric procedure for scale development. The scale development consists of four stages: item generation, item purification, item reduction and dimensionality, and scale validation. The items for the scale are generated from the literature on customer experience with and perception of service robots in hospitality and tourism and semi-structured interviews with customers who experienced service from robots in hospitality and tourism …

Hotel Staycationers' Well-Being Perception, Satisfaction, And Loyalty: The Role Of Restorative Qualities And Service Quality, Chanmi Hong

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

During the COVID-19 pandemic, a rising trend for travelers is to stay at a local hotel, known as "hotel staycations," rather than traveling outside of their area. Despite the increasing popularity, empirical studies on customer behavior in the hotel staycation context are limited. Furthermore, existing studies have largely overlooked restorative qualities and service quality of hotel staycations, which can significantly influence customer well-being and satisfaction. To address these gaps, this study aims to examine the impact of restorative qualities and service quality on customers' perception of well-being and satisfaction with the hotel staycation experience by extending Kaplan's (1995) attention restorative …

Adolescent Health And Maladaptive Coping: Assessing The Relationship Between Poor Physical Health And Underage Drinking, Shelby Gilbreath

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Adolescents endure various stressors throughout their lives, making them one of the most vulnerable populations in the United States. Among those life stressors are physical health issues, including physical illness and disabilities. Physical health challenges may serve as a strain that fosters deviant behavior, such as underage drinking. However, prior research has failed to investigate this relationship. The current study uses publicly available data from the National Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) to examine the impact of physical health challenges on underage drinking.

"Dug Way To Liberty": Newspapers, Prison, And Jim Crow In Georgia In The Early 1900s, Avery Elise Gross

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

On April 15, 1907, twelve Black and white convicts escaped from the Durham Mines prison camp located on Lookout Mountain, Georgia. Over the next month, newspapers throughout Georgia and in neighboring states reported the escape and discussed the recapture events. Within five days of the prison break, the local white community recaptured all nine Black convicts. None of the white convicts were caught. As this thesis investigates the lives, crimes, and recapture of all twelve prisoners, it connects the convict lease prison system with the newspaper media to understand the impact of white supremacy ideology and the repressive systems that …

Prevalence Of Meeting 24-Hour Movement Guidelines And Sociodemographic Correlates Among U.S. Adults, Samantha Cohen-Winans

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Much evidence exists for the health benefits associated with individual movement behaviors, which include light-intensity physical activity (LPA), moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep. However, individual movement behaviors are codependent in nature and exist within a finite period of 24-hours, further underlying the importance of examining the integration of movement behaviors. Despite the absence of 24-hour movement guidelines in the U.S., the benefits of adhering to such guidelines outweigh the potential harms, such as with various levels of physical activity intensity. Moreover, many intervention studies focus on one individual movement behavior underscoring the need for studies to examine intervention …

Phytochemical Constituents And Ppar Α/Γ Agonist Activity Of Juniperus Communis Berries And Comparison Studies Of J. Communis Berries To Saudi Juniperus Species (Arar): J. Procera And J. Phoenicea, Ibrahim Almarabi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Juniperus communis is distributed over a large geographical area mainly in the Northern Hemisphere across multiple continents making it the most known and medically used species among 75 other Juniperus species. One of the main traditional uses of J. communis that has been proven by several studies is its antidiabetic properties. An ethanolic extract of J. communis berries has shown promising antidiabetic results leading us to investigate its phytochemical constituents and to identify the active compounds that work through peroxisome proliferators–activated receptor (PPAR) α and γ receptors. Activation of both receptors by a drug candidate will achieve more benefits and …

Milk And Water Kefir: Microbial Diversity And Sensory Properties, Xia Li

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Kefir is a fermented beverage that has become increasingly popular because of its proposed probiotic functions. It can be classified into two types: milk kefir and water kefir depending on the medium and inoculated starter culture. This dissertation summarizes work exploring the similarities and differences between milk and water kefir with respect to sensory properties and microbial composition. For the kefir sensory test, six milk and six water kefirs were evaluated on the sensory attributes (color, aroma, taste, and mouthfeel). Milk kefirs were assessed as sour and cheesy, followed by a creamy and thick mouthfeel. In contrast, water kefirs were …

Development And Characterization Of Cannabidiol And Rho Kinase Inhibitor Combination Formulations For Ophthalmic Use, Mihir Sanjay Ghonge

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Glaucoma, the leading cause of irreversible blindness globally, is a neurodegenerative disease marked by progressive death of the retinal ganglion cells in the eye. In 2018, FDA approved a 0.02% ophthalmic solution of netarsudil mesylate (NM), Rhopressa®, a rho kinase inhibitor, for the reduction of intraocular pressure in patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension; the first new drug class in more than two decades. Cannabidiol (CBD) has been studied for its effects on intraocular pressure since the 1980s. In 2022, a study established that topical administration of CBD (1% w/v) decreased the intraocular pressure in pigmented Dutch Belted Rabbits. This …

The Effects Of Google Smart Compose On The Process Of Open-Ended Writing, Sijan Shrestha

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Recently, a lot of new natural language models have been developed which help individuals with writing. One of the widely used tools is Google’s Smart Compose which is a text-predictive system that helps individuals to write by reducing the need for repetitive typing. Though this tool has been well established and used by a lot of people, there is a lack of studies on its impact on open-ended writing.

In this thesis, we investigate the effect of Google’s Smart Compose in open-ended writing. To do this, we built a custom software that collects data while the users are writing on …

The Effects Of Blood Flow Restriction On The Vasculature And Tolerability During A 2-Week Intervention, Daphney Michelle Stanford

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Blood flow restriction (BFR) has been used to delay muscle atrophy, but it is unclear how this impacts the vasculature. Purpose: Determine the effect of BFR on upper body vasculature. Methods: 40 participants were randomized into control (CON) or BFR. For BFR, 80% of arterial occlusion pressure (AOP) was applied daily (5/week) for 5 cycles (5min inflation, 3min deflation) on the dominant arm. Vascular assessments occurred at baseline (Pre), week 1 (Mid), and week 2 (Post). A cuff on the forearm inflated over 110% AOP for 5min while brachial artery diameter and tissue saturation index (TSI, %) were continuously measured. …

Evaluation Of Precision Ingredient Inclusion On Production Efficiency Responses In Finishing Beef Cattle, Santana R. Hanson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Two randomized complete block design feedlot experiments were conducted over the course of two years. These experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of 1) evaluate the observed-to-expected ratio for ingredient inclusion using no commodity inclusion assistance technology or using commodity inclusion assistance technology; and 2) evaluate the influence that varying degrees (highly variable at random or 0.454 kg asfed tolerance for each ingredient) of accuracy on ingredient inclusion have on growth performance, carcass traits, efficiency of dietary NE utilization, and ingredient inventory management in finishing beef cattle. Experiment 1 used single source Black Angus heifers (n = 60; initial …

Effectiveness Of Atmospheric Cold Plasma In Inactivating Microorganisms, Nadee Shanika Kaluwahandi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In the food processing industry, Cold Plasma (CP) is an emerging green process with a number of potential applications. Cold plasma has mostly been used to reduce microbial counts in foodstuffs and biological materials as well as in different levels of packaging, particularly in cases where there is thermal sensitivity. Recent studies have demonstrated that CP technology is being developed for use in the food and agriculture industries. The primary focus is on the interactions between reactive species and food-borne microbes to inactivate them. The literature review discusses both proven and potential applications for cold plasma in food processing, as …

Polysaccharide-Based Hydrogel Beads For Biological Nitrogen Fixation, Prashant Dahal

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Work Accommodations On The Risk Of Relapse In Physicians And Nurses With Co-Occurring Substance Use And Mental Health Disorders, Corbin Watson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Accessing reasonable work accommodations may be difficult for healthcare professionals with impairments, particularly those who suffer from mental health and substance use disorders (MHSUD). The use of workplace accommodations by medical professionals who also have MHSUD may experience barriers to their accommodations. The article explores (1) the difference between the types of work accommodations and (2) the types of barriers healthcare professionals with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders experience and how they impact their risk of relapse. Implications for physicians, nurses, and counselors are discussed.

Evaluation Of Feed Additives And Delivery Method For Receiving And Finishing Cattle, Thiago Lauro Maia Ribeiro

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Trace minerals (TM) and vitamins are essential to improve production output and efficiency in beef cattle. The first experiment was conducted to investigate if the delivery method of TM and Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast culture influence growth performance and hepatic TM content of receiving steers. The second experiment evaluated the effect of supplemental protected B - vitamins to finishing steers. Experiment 1 used Charolais x Angus steers calves (n = 192; 256 ± 14 kg) in a 49-d receiving experiment. Within 36h of weaning, steers were weighed, allotted to 24 pens (n = 8 steers/pen; 8 pens/treatment) and randomly assigned to …

In-Vivo Assessment Of A Direct-Fed Microbial On Lactation Performances, Blood Biomarkers, Ruminal Fermentation And Microbial Abundance In Transition To Mid-Lactation Holstein Cows, Marcela Bulnes Lopez

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The transition period is a crucial stage in the lactation cycle and can lead to significant metabolic changes in cows. The use of nutritional interventions, such as direct-fed microbials, may assist cows during the transition from pregnancy to early lactation, reducing the occurrence of metabolic disorders and improving overall health. The primary goal of this study was to assess the effects of a commercial rumen-derived directfed microbial (DFM) product (Galaxis™ Frontier (GF) Native Microbials Inc., CA, USA) on various factors such as performance, blood biomarkers, rumen fermentation, and bacterial population in dairy cows during the transition period up to 100 …

Evaluation Of Yeast Postbiotic In Sow Diets On Sow And Offspring Performance And Microbial Succession, Joel Kieser

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Litter size and the resulting nutritional demand on the sow continue to increase while sow mortality and culling rate are also increasing. Non-nutritive feed additives may enhance sow health and thereby improve offspring growth and productivity after weaning. Development of the gut microbiome in piglets via microbial succession is critical for maximizing their productivity and providing stability for overcoming weaning stress. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of yeast-based postbiotic supplementation in gestation and lactation diets on offspring performance through the nursery period and on whether a yeast postbiotic could impact the sow fecal microbiome as …

Effect Of Genotypes On Rancidity Development During Storage Of Naked Oats, Aastha Gautam

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Oats, rich in lipids, lipase, and unsaturated fatty acids, can develop bitterness from triglyceride hydrolysis and unpleasant aromas through unsaturated fatty acid oxidation. To counteract these effects, the processing of hulled oats includes kilning, a step aimed at inactivating the enzymes responsible for lipid degradation. Kilning plays a crucial role in preserving the quality of oats by preventing undesirable flavors development linked to lipid breakdown. Despite the benefits of free threshing and absence of a dehulling requirement in naked oats, assessing lack of enzyme inactivation during processing is crucial for potential storage rancidity issues. Our aim was to determine the …

Phosphate2 And Pin-Likes7 Affect Symbiotic Nodule Phenotypes In Soybean, Bhawandeep Kaur

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Legumes and soil rhizobia share a symbiotic relationship, wherein rhizobia fix atmospheric dinitrogen in exchange for photosynthates from the host plant. This exchange of mutual benefits occurs in a specialized root structure called ‘nodule’. Soybean (Glycine max) nodules arise from root outer cortical cells. De novo cell differentiation of cortical cells during nodule development leads to the formation of two distinct nodule zones in the mature nodule: the central infection zone where nitrogen fixation occurs and the peripheral parenchyma zone that houses vascular bundles. Plant signaling mechanisms that dictate the development of these nodule zones are not known. To address …

Night Bites: The Relationship Between Sleep Quality, Binge Eating, And Night Eating, Mccall Schruff

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Obesity is a chronic disease and classified as a global epidemic. Its incidence has rapidly increased worldwide, particularly within the United States where associated adverse health consequences have led to substantial increases in premature mortality, health-care utilization, and spending. Given the biopsychosocial nature of obesity, it can be considered a preventable health-risk that is a major public health concern. Associated risk factors, such as insufficient quality and quantity of sleep, binge eating, and night eating, could worsen health outcomes, as research suggests these symptoms rarely occur in isolation and are more frequent in individuals with higher body mass index. In …