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Fermentable Carbohydrate Substrates Generated From Cereal And Pseudocereal Insoluble Dietary Fibers And Their In Vitro Fecal Fermentation, Lisa Marcela Lamothe

Open Access Dissertations

Dietary fiber has gained an increasing attention in recent years due to the myriad of health benefits attributed to it. The majority of these arise from their fermentative properties and their effects on gut microbiota. Cereals and pseudocereals are important sources of insoluble dietary fibers that are recalcitrant to solubilization by non-chemical methods and poorly fermented. This warranted an effort to make these fibers more susceptible to microbial degradation and a resulting improved fermentability. Insoluble dietary fibers from four alternative grains, sorghum and pearl millet of African origin, and quinoa and amaranth of Andean origin, were subjected to a combination …

Characterization Of Molecular Functions Of Polyamines In Fruit Development And Ripening In Tomato (Solanum Lycopersicum), Raheel Anwar

Open Access Dissertations

Putrescine (PUT), spermidine (SPD) and spermine (SPM) are three major polyamines (PAs) present in all living organisms. These biogenic amines have been implicated in diverse plant growth and development processes, including seed germination, tissue lignification, organogenesis, flowering, pollination, embryogenesis, fruit development, ripening, abscission, senescence, and stress responses. To elucidate molecular roles of PAs in fruit development and ripening, I characterized transgenic tomato plants ectopically expressing yeast spermidine synthase (ySpdSyn) or S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (ySAMdc) under constitutive CaMV 35S and/or fruit-specific SlE8 promoters. The ySpdSyn-expression enhanced PUT, SPD and SPM level in floral buds and fertilized developing ovaries by 2- to 3-fold …

A Population-Based Nutrition Intervention In College Students, Jennifer Arts

Open Access Dissertations

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a leading cause of death in young adults and at least half of college students ages 18-24 have CHD risk factor. Unhealthy dietary choices made by college students contribute to the development of CHD risk factors. Eighty-percent of heart disease is preventable through diet and lifestyle and college students are ideal targets for prevention efforts since they are in the process of establishing lifestyle habits, which track forward into adulthood. The purpose of this dissertation is to provide evidence for the need to target this age group before disease progression occurs and to present the …

Inhibition Of Activities Of Individual Subunits Of Intestinal Maltase-Glucoamylase And Sucrase-Isomaltase By Dietary Phenolic Compounds For Modulating Glucose Release And Gene Response, Meric Simsek

Open Access Dissertations

The occurrence of Type 2 diabetes is on the increase all over the world. Since free glucose is released through digestion of starch in the human diet, control of the starch digesting enzymes, particularly the intestinal mucosal alpha-glucosidases [Maltase-Glucoamylase (MGAM) and Sucrase-Isomaltase (SI)], has a potentially important role in both the etiology and treatment of this metabolic disorder. Inhibition of the activities of the intestinal alpha-glucosidases may be a promising way to moderate glucose delivery to the body. Although some commercial inhibitors, such as acarbose, have strong effect on these enzymes, and essentially block starch digestion, there is a need …

Crown Ideotypes For Genetically Improved Black Walnut (Juglans Nigra L.) Clones Under An Intensive Management Regime In Indiana, Usa, Kejia Pang

Open Access Dissertations

Developing crown ideotypes is important for more efficiently producing timber from black walnut (Juglans nigra L.), a valuable hardwood species that mainly grow in the Central Hardwood Region, US. To develop black walnut crown ideotypes for timber growth under an intensive management regime in North-Central Indiana, the following investigations were conducted:

Crown Ideotypes For Genetically Improved Black Walnut (Juglans Nigra L.) Clones Under An Intensive Management Regime In Indiana, Usa, Kejia Pang

Open Access Dissertations

Developing crown ideotypes is important for more efficiently producing timber from black walnut (Juglans nigra L.), a valuable hardwood species that mainly grow in the Central Hardwood Region, US. To develop black walnut crown ideotypes for timber growth under an intensive management regime in North-Central Indiana, the following investigations were conducted:

Characterization Of Molecular Functions Of Polyamines In Fruit Development And Ripening In Tomato (Solanum Lycopersicum), Raheel Anwar

Open Access Dissertations

Putrescine (PUT), spermidine (SPD) and spermine (SPM) are three major polyamines (PAs) present in all living organisms. These biogenic amines have been implicated in diverse plant growth and development processes, including seed germination, tissue lignification, organogenesis, flowering, pollination, embryogenesis, fruit development, ripening, abscission, senescence, and stress responses. To elucidate molecular roles of PAs in fruit development and ripening, I characterized transgenic tomato plants ectopically expressing yeast spermidine synthase (ySpdSyn) or S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (ySAMdc) under constitutive CaMV 35S and/or fruit-specific SlE8 promoters. The ySpdSyn-expression enhanced PUT, SPD and SPM level in floral buds and fertilized developing ovaries by 2- to 3-fold …

Evaluating The Role Of Hypoglycemia & Comorbid Illness On Diabetes Management Behaviors, Saumitra Vijay Rege

Open Access Dissertations

Over the recent years, the incidence of diabetes has significantly increased. Use of preventive services and treatment with oral antidiabetic drugs (OAD) has remained cornerstone in the management of type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Despite strong evidence that treating diabetes using these disease management strategies decreases morbidity, mortality and complications, glycemic control as well as other diabetes related outcomes remain unsatisfactory. The prevalence of diabetes in the United States has grown vastly in proportion over the last few years with the American Diabetes Association estimating that 9.3% of the population suffered from diabetes in the year 2012. These estimates are expected …

Characterization Of The Probiotic Mechanism Of Phaeobacter Gallaeciensis S4 Against Bacterial Pathogens, Wenjing Zhao

Open Access Dissertations

Infections by pathogenic marine bacteria are a major problem for both the shellfish and finfish aquaculture industries, causing severe disease and high mortality, which seriously affect aquaculture production and cause significant economic loss. Marine pathogens like Vibrio tubiashii and Roseovarius crassostreae frequently cause disease in a variety of shellfish. With the understanding that the use of antibiotics in large-scale aquaculture leads to the development and transfer of antibiotic resistance, investigation of probiotic approaches for the prevention of infectious disease has become important. In manuscript I, screening of bacterial isolates from Rhode Island marine organisms and environment using agar-based assay methods …

Liposomes For The Controlled Delivery Of Multiple Drugs, Swapnil A. Malekar

Open Access Dissertations

Various pathological conditions, such as cancer, osteoporosis, AIDS, tuberculosis, and other pathologies, require the concurrent use of multiple drugs, known as combination therapy or polytherapy, for effective treatment. The concurrent delivery of multiple drugs in a single dosage form, such as a tablet, capsule or parenteral, has been demonstrated in a number of products, but current technologies for multiple drug delivery remain limited for broad application. Physicochemical incompatibility, limited aqueous and lipid solubility, and chemical instability of the individual drugs, as well as detrimental drug-drug and drug-excipient interactions within the multiple-component dosage form, may all compromise the development of stable, …

Nutritional And Immunological Evaluation Of Soy-Based Diets For Summer Flounder (Paralichthys Dentatus) Aquaculture, Daniel Ward

Open Access Dissertations

Summer flounder aquaculture has progressed significantly in the last twenty years, and diets have been optimized to provide optimal nutrition, ensuring a high quality final product. Recently, the focus of research has evolved toward finding a replacement for fish meal in diets for many species, as the demand for fish meal worldwide has caused the primary protein product to become increasingly economically volatile. Therefore, a series of experiments were designed to systematically evaluate feeds for summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus) including soy-based products as the primary protein source. The first feed trial involved the comparison of three diets; a …

Phytochemical Investigation Of The Traditional Botanical Medicine Iresine Celosia, Caroline Grace Killian

Open Access Dissertations

Iresine celosia L. is a traditional medicine used by the indigenous Mayan people for a variety of ailments. It is also the sole active ingredient in the Odyliresin™ formulation currently marketed to humans worldwide as an antioxidant and for the promotion of prostate health. However, Odyliresin™ has not been characterized phytochemically, or evaluated biologically for its intended use. This work represents the first comprehensive phytochemical investigation of the Odyliresin™ formulation botanical extract. To better understand its constitutive phytochemistry, a tailored isolation scheme was developed, using various chromatography resins (silica gel, LH-20), separation and purification techniques. In all, eleven compounds were …

Intrapartum Nurses’ Beliefs About Childbirth: A Descriptive Qualitative Study In Nurses That Provide Care To Women In Labor And Birth, Sylvia P. Ross

Open Access Dissertations

In the United States, a large gap exists between what is known as best evidence in maternal-newborn health and the routine practices at the frontline of maternity care. Intrapartum nurses are uniquely positioned to promote practices that are evidencebased and support the normal physiologic process of birth. This qualitative study explored intrapartum nurses’ beliefs about childbirth and the influence of their beliefs on their clinical practice, particularly practices that promoted normal physiologic birth. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with 10 intrapartum registered nurses using Rubin and Rubin’s (2012) responsive interview model. All participants practiced on a labor and delivery unit …

The Bovine Spermatozoal Transcriptome And Sire Fertility, Christopher James Card

Open Access Dissertations

The goal of this dissertation research was to characterize the spermatozoal transcript profile of bovine cryopreserved spermatozoa. The main goal was to sequence the complete transcript profile from a population of sires across a wide fertility range utilizing RNA-Sequencing (RNA-Seq). Sequencing was then conducted to compare the spermatozoal transcript profiles of higher and lower fertility sires in an effort to determine the presence or absence of spermatozoal transcripts that may aid in improving fertility testing in sires. In addition to RNA-Seq analysis, other semen parameters such as morphology, DNA fragmentation, and RNA amount were analyzed for relationships with fertility.

The …

Molecular Interaction In Carboxylesterases-Based Catalysis: Ontogenic Expression And Induction Through A Novel Element, Yi-Tzai Chen

Open Access Dissertations

Carboxylesterases (CES) catalyze both hydrolytic and synthetic reactions and play important roles in drug metabolism and lipid mobilization. Many factors such as age and dietary supplements have been shown to regulate the CES expression. The expression of CES1 shows the developmental regulation and is highly induced by antioxidants. The goals of this project were to determine whether CES2, like CES1, is developmentally regulated and to investigate how antioxidants induced the expression of CES1 at the molecular level.

The ontogenic studies showed the mRNA levels of CES2 exhibited a postnatal surge (1-31 days versus 35-70 days) in both liver and duodenum. …

The Green Eating Project: Web-Based Intervention To Promote Environmentally Conscious Eating Behaviors, Jessica T. Nash

Open Access Dissertations

The food system has been cited as unsustainable due to the reliance on natural resources and contribution to global pollution. Technological advances will play a major role in mitigating these negative consequences but consumers will also play a role through food choices. Green Eating (GE) is the concept of practicing more environmentally conscious eating behaviors and is currently defined as: eating locally grown foods, limited amounts of processed/fast foods, eating meatless meals at least one day per week, choosing organic foods as much as possible, and only taking what you plan on eating. Little research exists investigating college student perspectives’ …

The Relationship Between Nursing Documentation And Incidence Of Pressure Ulcers In Intensive Care Units, Dan Li

Open Access Dissertations

Pressure ulcer prevention requires consistent assessments and documentation. Documentation of pressure ulcers among providers is often inconsistent and can lead to a delay in proper treatment of pressure ulcers. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the quality/comprehensiveness of nursing documentation of pressure ulcers and to investigate the relationship between nursing documentation and incidence of pressure ulcers in Intensive Care Units (ICUs). Sample: A convenience sample of ICU patients at the selected medical center comprised the study’s sample. All patients’ medical records of patients admitted to ICUs between the time periods of September 01, 2011 through September 30, …

The Role Of Algal Symbiont Community Dynamics In Reef Coral Responses To Global Climate Change, Ross Cunning

Open Access Dissertations

The continued growth and survival of reef-building corals is essential to sustain the goods and services provided by coral reefs, worth billions of dollars annually. However, warming oceans are causing more frequent and severe episodes of coral bleaching, the breakdown of symbiosis between corals and their algal symbionts (Symbiodinium spp.), which threatens corals’ survival unless they can adapt or acclimatize. One way that corals may increase their thermal tolerance is by associating with different Symbiodinium types. Changes in partner abundance may also have functional consequences, but these symbiont dynamics are poorly understood. This dissertation aims to provide a clearer understanding …

The Effect Of 10-S Maximal Sprints Performed Prior To And Immediately Following Moderate Intensity Exercise On Glucoregulation Of Individuals With Type 1 Diabetes, Jennifer Maher Raeburn

Open Access Dissertations

Objective: To examine the efficacy of a 10-s maximal sprint performed immediately prior to and following a 40-min, moderate-intensity bout of exercise, as a means of maintaining plasma glucose concentration during both exercise and 120 min of recovery in those with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Research Design and Methods: Seven moderately active males with T1DM performed a continuous graded exercise test on a cycle ergometer to determine peak power output (Wpeak). Subjects then reported to the laboratory on two separate occasions after an overnight 8-h fast and either rested (CON) or performed a 10-s maximal effort sprint (150% Wpeak) …

An Analysis Of The Impact Of Storage Temperature, Moisture Content & Duration Upon The Chemical Components & Bioprocessing Of Lignocellulosic Biomass, Arun Athmanathan

Open Access Dissertations

The successful utilization of lignocellulosic biomass as a feedstock for fuels and chemicals necessitates storage for 2-6 months. It is correspondingly important to understand the impact of storage parameters - moisture concentration, temperature and duration - on biomass quality.

As aerobic storage is the most viable large-scale solution, aerobic storage experiments were carried out with three projected bioenergy feedstocks - sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) bagasse, corn (Zea mays) stover and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum). Stored samples of each were examined for dry matter loss and composition change to develop a material balance around carbohydrates and lignin.

A mean dry matter loss …

The Role Of Soil Microorganisms In The Resistance Of Giant Ragweed, Horseweed, And Common Lambsquarters To Glyphosate, Jessica Renee Schafer-Bugg

Open Access Dissertations

Continuous glyphosate use has contributed to an increasing number of problematic glyphosate-resistant (GR) weeds. The mechanism of resistance in many GR weeds is poorly understood, in part, due to a poor understanding of how exactly glyphosate kills a plant. In previous research, the efficacy of glyphosate was demonstrated to be strongly influenced by root invading soil-borne microorganisms. However, this interaction among plants, glyphosate, and soil microorganisms has only been studied in a number of crop plants, but not in weed species. This is surprising since the soil biotic environment has a strong impact on the activity of this important herbicide. …

Patient Perceptions Of Physicians And Medication Adherence Among Medicare Part D Beneficiaries, Lori Marquinne Ward

Open Access Dissertations

Ward, Lori Marquinne. Ph.D., Purdue University, December, 2013. Patient Perceptions of Physicians and Medication Adherence Among Medicare Part D Beneficiaries. Major Professor: Joseph Thomas III.

An observational database analysis using Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey data was conducted to examine patient perceptions of physicians and associations with adherence to antihypertensive medication among Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Part D. The study sample included beneficiaries if they were 65 years or older, dwelling in the community, had a diagnosis of hypertension in 2007, were enrolled in Medicare Part D all 12 months in 2008, and had Medicare Part D claims for antihypertensive …

The Chemistry Of Flavonoids In Model Beverages And Human Milk, Brian Jay Song

Open Access Dissertations

Interest in the chemistry and stability of flavonoids in foods has been generated by countless epidemiological, in vitro, and in vivo studies that suggest a variety of potential health promoting effects of diets rich in flavonoids. Flavonoids have been shown to interact with multiple components in beverages including macromolecules, minerals, certain vitamins, and other flavonoids. Furthermore, environmental conditions including light exposure, elevated temperatures, and relative humidity have been shown to modify flavonoid stability. However, specific mechanisms, relative kinetics of degradation reactions and the impact of macromolecules in model beverages and biological fluids on flavonoid stability remain largely unknown.

Recently, interest …

Natural Genetic Variation Affecting Calcium Homeostasis, Rebecca Anna Replogle

Open Access Dissertations

Calcium (Ca) is essential for multiple functions within the body including skeletal health. The level of Ca in the serum is tightly regulated. During periods of habitual low Ca intake, the body senses a decrease in serum Ca and increases renal conversion of 25 hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) to 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2D). 1,25(OH)2D acts through the vitamin D receptor (VDR) to increase intestinal Ca absorption, renal Ca reabsorption and skeletal Ca resorption. Efficient intestinal Ca absorption, especially during periods of low Ca intake, is critical for protecting bone mass. Ca absorption and its primary regulator, 1,25(OH)2D, are affected by both …

Management Of Potato Leafhopper And Maple Spider Mite On Nursery Grown Maples, Julia Prado Beltran

Open Access Dissertations

Potato leafhopper Empoasca fabae (Harris) (Homoptera: Cicadellidae) and maple spider mite Oligonychus aceris (Shimer) (Acarina: Tetranychidae) are important pests of maple trees. Investigations determined how insecticide use and fertilization impacted the abundance of E. fabae and O. aceris on `Red Sunset' red maple and `Autumn Blaze' Freeman maples. Bifenthrin applications directed against leafhoppers reduced damage to both cultivars, but increased O. aceris on Autumn Blaze. Using a threshold of one leafhopper per branch to trigger pesticide applications protected Red Sunset maples from leafhopper injury. It also prevented outbreaks of O. aceris on Autumn Blaze because few trees reached this density. …

Quantifying Crop Yield, Bioenergy Production And Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Cropland And Marginal Land Using A Model-Data Fusion Approach, Zhangcai Qin

Open Access Dissertations

Bioenergy is becoming increasingly attractive to many countries, but has sparked an intensive debate regarding energy, economy, society and environment. Biofuels provide alternative energy to conventional fossil fuels. However, the environmental impact of producing and using biofuel is a major concern to our society. This study is dedicated to quantifying and evaluating biofuel production and potential climate change mitigation due to potential large-scale bioenergy expansion in the conterminous United States, using model-data fusion approaches.

Biofuel made from conventional (e.g., maize (Zea mays L.)) and cellulosic crops (e.g., switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) and Miscanthus (Miscanthus × giganteus)) …

Invasive Silver Carp (Hypophthalmichthys Molitrix) Protein Hydrolysates- A Potential Source Of Natural Antioxidant, Sravanthi Priya Malaypally

Open Access Dissertations

Invasive silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix), continue to spread over the Mississippi River causing a great concern for the river ecosystem due to their impact on native fish species. To minimize the negative effects of silver carp, many strategies were implemented including using it for animal feed, as fertilizers or simply discarding them into waste. However, these fish are high in protein content, making them excellent starting material for protein-derived by-products. One alternative is to recover and modify the protein in the fish into bioactive food ingredient. In the functional/ nutraceutical food industry, there is high demand for antioxidant agents. In …

The Termite Digestome: Understanding The Digestive Physiology Involved In Lignocellulosic Biomass Degradation, Zachary John Karl

Open Access Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to advance the understanding of lower termite digestive physiology and discover potential biocatalysts that can aid in the degradation of lignocellulosic biomass. Various protein characterization and gene expression methods were used throughout this research in order to accomplish these objectives. The results of this dissertation indicate that: 1) termites and their symbionts act in a synergistic manner to degrade biomass in vitro, 2) the host fraction of the gut (i.e., foregut and midgut) is the likely site of glucose absorption, 3) the termite and its symbionts contribute specific enzymes to the digestive process, 4) …

Assessing The Preparedness Of The Veterinary Profession To Communicate With Limited English Proficient Spanish-Speaking Pet Owners, Ruth Ellen Landau

Open Access Dissertations

The purpose of the present study was to assess the preparedness of the veterinary profession to communicate with limited English proficient Spanish-speaking pet owners (LEP SSPOs). Results of surveys with 393 Latino pet owners, 383 small animal veterinarians and staff, and over 2000 veterinary students indicate that interaction between veterinary professionals and LEP SSPOs is not a rare occurrence: Veterinarians in states with large established or fast-growing Latino communities are seeing LEP SSPOs and their pets on a regular basis: 89% of veterinarians have LEP Spanish-speaking clients, over half of these practitioners are seeing LEP SSPOs weekly, and over half …

Smooth Muscle-Specific Removal Of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Results In Increased Vagal Afferent Innervation To The Intestine And Increased Satiation In Mice, Jessica Erin Biddinger

Open Access Dissertations

Vagal afferents transmit signals regarding food-derived stimuli in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract to the brain. Vagal mechanoreceptors called intraganglionic laminar endings (IGLEs) innervate the smooth muscle wall of GI organs and detect stretch and tension to regulate GI reflexes and satiation. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is expressed in the smooth muscle of developing GI organs when vagal afferents from the nodose ganglion begin to innervate the GI tract. Therefore, it was hypothesized BDNF is necessary for development of vagal afferents that innervate this tissue. Targeted smooth muscle-specific BDNF homozygous knockout (BDNF SM -/-) mice were generated and .vagal afferent innervation …