Digital Commons Network^™

How Sewage Pollution Affects Distribution And Life History Traits Of The Southern House Mosquito, Culex Quinquefasciatus, Catherine Dean Bermond

Master's Theses

Eutrophication from wastewater can cause fluxes of nutrients like and carbon and nitrogen in urban waters. One source of nitrogen in freshwater is from untreated sewage discharging from septic tanks. This causes a variety of environmental issues including harmful algal blooms, harming natural predators, and increased production of mosquitoes. Culex quinquefasciatus is the vector of West Nile Virus in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana. St. Tammany Parish has over 600 miles of septic ditches, which receive effluent directly from aerated treatment units. Culex quinquefasciatus oviposit in polluted waters, and larvae perform well in water with high levels of decomposing organic matter. …

A Comparison Of The Perceived Effects Of Injury On Collegiate Dancers And Athletes, Megan Chiles

Master's Theses

This research study focused on sustained injuries to collegiate dancers and athletes and the physical and mental effects that followed the sustained injuries. The researcher used an electronic survey to gather quantitative and qualitative data. Quantitative data included average weekly hours of practice and conditioning, if an injury was sustained during participation of their activity, where the injury was sustained, and if medical treatment was provided to them through their universities. Qualitative data included whether the injured participants ever felt pressured to continue participation after an injury was sustained. This research study demonstrated that both collegiate dancers and athletes sustain …

Diet Induced Metabolic Alterations In The Brain Tissues Of Juvenile Pigs With Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Rhesa Lacanienta

Master's Theses

The objective of this study was to investigate the diet-induced metabolic changes that affect the brain tissue of juvenile pigs with NAFLD. This study explored the liver- brain axis and metabolic markers in the frontal cortex (FC) affected by liver damage. 18 male (M) and 20 female (F) Iberian pigs were randomly allocated to 1 of 3 high-fructose high-fat liquid diets (lard, olive oil, and coconut oil) and fed for 10 consecutive weeks. “Healthy” Iberian pigs were fed a eucaloric diet to establish a physiological baseline. Protein precipitation extraction using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry was performed for primary …

Investigating The Role Of The Metabolite Je As An Inflammatory Modulator, Rim Ahmed Noufal

Master's Theses

Innate immunity represents the first line of defense against pathogens that invade our bodies. It greatly relies on a family of abundant receptors called pathogen recognition receptors (PRRs). These are germ-line encoded proteins abundant in immune cells like macrophages, dendritic cells, and natural killer cells. PRRs encompass five categories, one of which includes toll-like receptors (TLRs). TLRs could either be located on the surface of the cells or intracellularly. The mechanism by which TLRs act is through recognizing a myriad of foreign structures derived from microbes, such as proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates as well as their genetic material. Generally, these …

Development Of An Angiogenic Tissue-On-A-Chip Microenvironment, Eric Stuehr

Master's Theses

Preclinical testing is necessary to investigate the safety and efficacy of novel therapeutics before moving to clinical trials, yet approximately 90% of these therapies fail once tested in humans. This has led to increased interest in developing robust preclinical models that accurately mimic the complex human in vivo physiology. Microfluidic devices that can introduce dynamic conditions to 3D cell/organoid cultures, also known as tissue-on-a-chip, have emerged as physiologically relevant in vitro preclinical models that can achieve high throughput screening of therapeutics. The research presented here aimed to develop an angiogenic environment within a novel microfluidic device to stimulate formation of …

The Evaluation Of Calsporin And Imw50 On Production Performance, Microbial Population, And Immune Function Of The Laying Hen, Kayla N. Kleist

Master's Theses

The use of antibiotics as growth promotors in the food animal industry has led to the generation of antibiotic resistant microorganisms, which are a major health risk to humans. Therefore, bans and limitations, including the FDA’s veterinary feed directive, have been placed on the use of antibiotics as growth promotors, and there has been a push to find an adequate alternative. In the laying hen, probiotics and/or prebiotics have shown promise as they help promote the colonization of beneficial bacteria in the GI tract of the host, increase feed efficiency, increase egg production, and provide protection against pathogenic bacteria.

In …

Using Noninvasive Calibrated Cuff Plethysmography To Observe The Effects Of Cold-Water Immersion On Arterial Compliance, Rita M. Grigorian

Master's Theses

As the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases continues to exponentially grow in populations across the globe, the necessity of determining underlying factors, effective methods of diagnoses, and universally available preventive measures also grows. Early detection of endothelial dysfunction, a proven precursor of cardiovascular diseases, can be extremely impactful in encouraging preventative measures and early intervention before medical conditions become chronic. In recent years, ice plunging, a form of cryotherapy involving full body immersion in cold water, has gained popularity within circles of fitness and health practitioners, gaining the interest of people of all backgrounds. Certain parallels observed between the human physiological …

Physical Treatments To Modify The Functionality Of Carrot Pomace And The Development Of An Enhanced Beef Patty, Jordan O.A Richards

Master's Theses

Approximately one-third of the global food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted somewhere along the food chain. Carrots are one of the most important and widely produced root vegetables grown worldwide; they are rich in many beneficial bioactive compounds such as dietary fiber and carotenoids. Every year, an estimated 29% of processed carrots are lost as waste. The U.S. is the 3^rd largest producer of carrots worldwide, 85% of which come from California. During carrot juice processing, up to 50% of the raw material remains as carrot pomace. Carrot pomace may contain up to 55% total dietary …

Effects Of Posttranslational Modifications On Metal Ion Binding To The Antimicrobial Peptide Pg-Ki, Tiffany Alvarez

Master's Theses

There is an emerging crisis in healthcare from a rise in antibiotic resistance coupled with a decrease in novel antibiotic development which is making it more difficult to treat individuals with infections. An attractive alternative for novel therapies is antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) which are naturally occurring peptides in the innate immune response and found in many forms of life. They are produced to protect the host from pathogens like gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria and fungi, and some even have antiviral and anticancer activity. Because of their broad-spectrum activity and low rates ofpathogen resistance, antimicrobial peptides are an attractive alternative to …

Characterization And Estimation Of Musculoskeletal Pain Using Machine Learning, Boluwatife Faremi

Master's Theses

Traditional scales utilized for recording pain are known to be highly subjective and biased due to inaccuracies in recollecting actual pain intensities. As a result, machine learning (ML) models that are trained using these scores as ground truth are reported to have low performance for objective pain classification because of the huge disparity between what was felt in moments of pain and the scores recorded afterward.

In the present study, two devices were designed for gathering real-time, continuous in-session subjective pain scores and the recording of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) altered endodermal (EDA) activity. 24 participants were recruited to …

Evaluation Of Potential Surrogates For Listeria Monocytogenes In Fresh Citrus-Specific Validation Studies, Kimiko Grace Casuga

Master's Theses

The FSMA Produce Safety Rule (PSR) requires citrus packers to more closely assess, manage, and monitor food safety risks. Although there have been no foodborne illness outbreaks and only one recall in fresh citrus, the risk of pathogens coming in on the fruit and cross contamination during washing still exists. Packhouses have dynamic washing systems and in-plant validations may be the only way to demonstrate compliance with the PSR. In-plant validations use surrogates in place of pathogens, and none have been identified or validated for citrus. The aim of this research was to identify a surrogate for use in fresh …

Predictive Ability Of A 3d Body Scanning Mobile Application For Metabolic Health Risk, Caleb Brandner

Master's Theses

There is an increasing prevalence of obesity within the US and rising rates of metabolic syndrome among those aged 20-39 concurrent with a decrease in the reception of primary care. Limitations to healthcare including access, cost, and availability, highlighting the need for simple, efficient, and accessible cardiometabolic health risk screening. Given the surge in smartphone ownership over the last decade, this study sought to determine the predictive ability of a mobile 3D-optical (3DO) body composition assessment application in determining metabolic health risk. A total of 62 participants (female: 36) underwent traditional anthropometric measurements, 3DO body scanning using a smartphone application, …

Beyond The Clinic: Modified Internet-Delivered Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, Terreca Cato

Master's Theses

Children who attend Head Start children are at increased risk for emotional and behavioral disorders. A variety of systemic factors contribute to their increased risk for problematic developmental outcomes. Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) is an evidence-based intervention for improving positive parenting skills and children’s outcomes. This study included a multiple baseline design across participants and tested the effects of Internet-Delivered Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (I-PCIT) on improving Head Start mothers’ use of the Effective Commands that are part of the Parent Directed Interaction component of PCIT. Seven total mothers were recruited to participate in this study. Four mothers did not complete …

The Effect Of Adding Mango To A Breakfast Meal On Glycemic And Satiety Responses And Next Meal Energy Consumption, Natalie R. Ramos

Master's Theses

Spikes in blood glucose (BG) result in adverse health consequences in people with and without diabetes. This study aimed to compare the BG and satiety responses of adding mango or sugar to a high glycemic load (HGL) breakfast. A randomized, controlled trial (cross-over design) was conducted with 18 participants. Participants consumed cornflakes and almond milk (Control), control plus 34gm added sugar (ASug), or added mango (AMango) with 34gm carbohydrate. BG was determined at fasting, 15, 30, 60, 90, 120min postprandial; satiety was rated with a visual analog scale at each time point. At 120min, subjects consumed a snack of hummus …

Integrative Analyses Of Genomic And Metabolomic Data Reveal Molecular Mechanisms Associated With Uterine Disease Traits In Transitioning Dairy Cattle, Leanna C. Sanchez, Mohammed Abo-Ismail, Daniel Peterson, Fernando Campos-Chillon

Master's Theses

The metritis complex (MC), characterizing post-partum uterine diseases in dairy cattle has negative implications on animal welfare, production efficiency, and the economic stability of the dairy industry. The studies in this thesis aimed to investigate the genetic architecture of the metritis complex and identify genomic regions and metabolites associated with the development of MC. Thereby enhancing our understanding of the biological pathways and molecular mechanisms involved in the pathophysiology of MC during the transition period in Jersey and Holstein dairy cattle.

Chapter 2 sheds light on the previous work done on MC. The goals of this review were to (1) …

The Temporal Evaluation Of Mouthfeel And Retronasal Sensations In Red Wines From The Central Coast Of California, Emily S. Stoffel

Master's Theses

Time-based sensory analysis techniques capture the dynamic retronasal and mouthfeel sensations in wines. It is important to understand how common winemaking practices and popular varietals impact the retronasal and mouthfeel profile as consumers tend to judge wine quality based on the taste, flavor, and mouthfeel of a wine. Three time-based sensory analysis methods were utilized with the objective to understand the effect of five commonly applied winemaking techniques (blending, varietal choice, fermentation temperature, cap management, and stem addition) on the dynamic retronasal and mouthfeel profile of six different varietals (Merlot, Malbec, Petite Sirah, Pinot noir, Grenache, and Tannat) grown on …

Agricultural Shocks On Household Stability: A Case Study Of Tanzania Maize Farmers, Zimmi Silonda Ndlovu

Master's Theses

As the global populations grow, the need for stronger agricultural resilience in areas with high food insecurity like Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is a must. Crop failure due to climate related events has increased substantially over the past decade, raising the risks to vulnerable groups like subsistence farmers. Understanding the effects of climate variability on farmers and their crops is a pivotal step towards increasing resilience and productivity. In this paper I approach this question using a Linear Probability Fixed-effects Model on Tanzanian Panel Survey data with monthly temperature and precipitation for years 2008 to 2013. Results suggest a negative relationship …

Mapping Effectiveness: Farm Mechanization Initiatives By Lumbini Province Of Nepal (Fiscal Year 2018/19), Ananda Phuyal

Master's Theses

An effective farm mechanization program should increase crop production and be profitable to the benefitting households. Increasing labor shortages and decreasing animal draft power in agriculture demanded farm mechanization to increase food productivity in Nepal. To increase crop yield, the Ministry of Land Management, Agriculture and Cooperative (MOLMAC) of Lumbini Province in Nepal distributed 1994 subsidized tools and machinery in Fiscal Year 2018. The farm mechanization program by the government was an ambitious program and was implemented without research to address the actual need of the geography. However, the program had a positive impact on the community. It is found …

Between Life And Death: Reimagining Black Reproductive Healthcare, Briana Britton

Master's Theses

The state of Black reproductive health is in crisis with mortality rates of birthing people in the U.S. being the worst in the developed world. What compounds this issue is historical and cultural evidence of unethical and inhumane treatment of Black people – Black birthing people in particular – by the U.S. healthcare system primarily due to racism and sexism. Those who do not identify with the binary and heteronormative structures of our healthcare system are at further risk of discrimination and health disparities. Due to social and cultural ideals, stigma, and other structural forces, Black, Black birthing and Black …

The Child Nutrition Cost Of Weather Shocks In Nigeria, Danielle M. Abaya

Master's Theses

Child malnutrition is alarmingly high in Nigeria with the highest number of malnourished children, the second highest population of stunted children worldwide and 17 million Nigerians facing food insecurity. According to the World Health Organization, children are predicted to suffer about 80% of weather-related illnesses and deaths. As climate change continues to pose the greatest health threat and while scientists predict its irreversible effects in the next 10 years, countries such as Nigeria are already experiencing the burden of climate change today. This study uses total rainfall to measure precipitation and two Enhanced Vegetation Index variables, total change in greenness …

Sweet And Timely Insurance: The Role Of Honey In Reducing Coffee Producer Food Insecurity Exposure In Mexico, Grant Xavier Storer

Master's Theses

Smallholder coffee producers face a combination of pre- and post-harvest risk factors that leaves them particularly vulnerable to food insecurity. A popular form of on-farm diversification is honey production through beekeeping, that has both nutritional and commercial value. This study investigates the role of honey production as means of food security management due to the heightened pollinating activity during the coffee flowering stage that follows the annual coffee harvest provides an additional non-contemporaneous source of income. Using primary data collected in coffee-producing regions of Chiapas, Mexico, I find that during the honey harvest months, which occurs during the early stage …

Ties That Bind: Allomaternal Care And Cooperation Among Matrilocal And Patrilocal Northeast Indian Tribes, Shreeja Guha

Master's Theses

Why do humans cooperate? Given the extensive range of literature from various disciplines on the puzzle of human cooperation, there is no one answer to that question. In this paper, I look at whether childcare provided by individuals other than the genetic mother, i.e. allomaternal care, can be one possible explanation for the evolution of human cooperation, especially in small communities with no formal childcare. The data for this study comes from field experiments & surveys conducted with a sample of 416 mothers and fathers from matrilocal and patrilocal tribes in North-east India. I present evidence that allomaternal care plays …

Early Life Exposure To Enso And Adult Human Capital, Ashley J. Stewart

Master's Theses

Do El Niño Southern Oscillation conditions during a woman's early childhood lead to negative health outcomes in adulthood? This study poses as an extension of the 2021 paper by Anttila-Hughes et al. titled “ENSO impacts child undernutrition in the global tropics” and utilizes data from the same DHS, UDEL temperature and precipitation, and NOAA Center for Weather and Climate Prediction datasets. It proposes to investigate whether the undernutrition effects found in children persist into adulthood by measuring the effects on their mothers and the intergenerational effects on their offspring. Results indicate that a 1℃ increase in sea surface temperatures in …

Agricultural Shocks On Household Stability: A Case Study Of Tanzania Maize Farmers, Zimmi Ndlovu

Master's Theses

As the global populations grow, the need for stronger agricultural resilience in areas with high food insecurity like Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is a must. Crop failure due to climate related events has increased substantially over the past decade, raising the risks to vulnerable groups like subsistence farmers. Understanding the effects of climate variability on farmers and their crops is a pivotal step towards increasing resilience and productivity. In this paper I approach this question using a Linear Probability Fixed-effects Model on Tanzanian Panel Survey data with monthly temperature and precipitation for years 2008 to 2013. Results suggest a negative relationship …

Effects Of Increased Shoe Collar Height And Limb Dominance On Landing Knee Biomechanics In Collegiate Volleyball Players, Lindsey Legg

Master's Theses

Athletic footwear with higher collar heights are worn to restrict ankle motion. Reduced ankle dorsiflexion has been associated with increased frontal plane knee motion. Volleyball players wear mid-cut shoes (MC) that have an increased collar height rising slightly superior to the talocrural joint and malleoli. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of MC and limb dominance on knee landing mechanics. It was hypothesized that participants would land with greater initial contact (IC) and peak frontal joint plane angles and moments and smaller IC and peak sagittal plane joint angles and moments at the knee in MC …

Ramie (Boehmeria Nivea): An Underutilized Plant For A Multipurpose Industrial Application; A Perennial Plant With Protein Identification Using Maldi-Ms, A Biosorbent For Hg (Ii) Removal From Water And As A Bast Fiber Production Via Enzymatic Degumming, Abdul Rashid Issifu

Master's Theses

Identifying plant species that can offer life support to humans and animals without damaging the environment is quite challenging. Ramie, one of the oldest fiber crops was studied due to its nutritional value as fodder and other multipurpose applications in, e.g., medicinal, environmental, and textile industrial fields.

With a brief discussion of background in Chapter I, Chapter II focused on using a proteomic method to investigate unknown proteins in the leaves of ramie and to study their benefits to the biological system. PPiase and RuBisCO with molecular weight 15 and 52 KDa were identified as the proteins after peptide mass …

Comparative Analysis Of Rhizosphere And Endosphere Microbiome Of Different Blueberry Species (Vaccinium Sp.), Niladri Bhowmik

Master's Theses

Blueberries are an important agricultural commodity in all over the United States. Due to its health benefits, there is a huge demand globally, thus expanding the industry. Breeding programs are essential to maintain such industries. Challenges that play a role in contemporary breeding programs are various biotic and abiotic stress factors. Studies have shown that microorganisms are recruited by plants to alleviate them during stressful conditions. Though blueberries have been cultivated for about 100 years, how the microbiome has been affected due to this is poorly understood. We hypothesized that interspecific crosses and artificial selection have significantly changed the microbiome …

Nutritional Adequacy Of Dietary Intake Among College Students Who Follow A Veget, Kayanna L. Pulliam

Master's Theses

In recent years, forms of the vegetarian diet have been popularized for various reasons, including health benefits, support of animal rights, and greater sustainability claims. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to examine the diet quality and adequacy and iron status of college students’ diets, and compare eating disorder (ED) risk between self-proclaimed vegetarians and non-vegetarians. The study sample was a convenience sample of students at Louisiana Tech University who were 18 years of age or older (N = 179). Students were recruited via email, flyers, and classroom announcements. Participants completed an online questionnaire with multiple validated tests; The …

Nutrition-Related Factors Impacting The Bone Health Of Female Sports And Performance Collegiate Athletes, Elizabeth Doll

Master's Theses

Low bone mineral density is commonly found in female athletes and has been related to the energy adequacy and nutrient density of the athlete’s diet. Insufficient dietary energy intake and/or excessive energy expenditure can lead to low energy availability in female athletes, which has been shown to disrupt endocrine, metabolic, and physiological functions. Psychological distress in competitive athletes may affect dietary choices and patterns. To meet their personal or performance standards/goals, an athlete may go to extremes to achieve those standards/goals, including altering their dietary intake.

This study aimed to evaluate the nutrition-related factors affecting the bone health of collegiate …

The Impact Of Leaf Litter Diversity On The Colonization Of Aquatic Insects, Daniel Edwards

Master's Theses

Ephemeral pools provide habitat to a wide diversity of aquatic insects which colonize pools to establish new populations in higher quality habitats. These pools rely on nutrient inputs from the surrounding terrestrial landscape, predominantly through leaf litter. Using mesocosms, we tested for the effect of leaf litter diversity (richness and functional diversity) on the colonization of aquatic insects. Leaf litter influences characteristics of a pool (tannins, water color, and nutrients) which may make them more or less desirable to potential colonizers. I added unique mixtures of leaf litter with different numbers of species (0, 3, 5, 7, and 9) and …