Digital Commons Network^™

Profiling Genome-Wide Dna Methylation Patterns In Human Aortic And Mitral Valves, Sarah Halawa

Theses and Dissertations

Cardiac valve structure and function are complex and include dynamic interactions between cells, extracellular matrix (ECM) and their hemodynamic environment. Valvular gene expression is tightly regulated by a variety of mechanisms including epigenetic factors such as histone modifications, RNA-based mechanisms and DNA methylation. To date, methylation fingerprints of non-diseased human aortic and mitral valves have not been studied. In this work I analyzed the differential methylation profiles of 12 non-diseased aortic and mitral valve tissue samples (in matched pairs). Methylation data were acquired via reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (RRBS). Of 1601 promoters analyzed genome-wide, my analysis revealed 584 differentially methylated …

A Rapid Spectrophotometric Assay For Quantifying Seed Coat Saponins In Quinoa, Sydney Diver Szabo

Theses and Dissertations

Background and objectives: The commonly used afrosimetric foam-height method for quantifying saponins in quinoa is rapid but imprecise. A rapid UV/Vis method, utilizing the Liebermann-Burchard (LB) color reaction, was compared to the foam method across a range of saponin levels in washed and unwashed seed. Findings: A 6 min UV/Vis method provided greater precision and accuracy than the afrosimetric method at the lower saponin levels found in washed quinoa. The afrosimetric method did not differentiate saponin levels below 0.6 mg/mL but allows for useful relative comparisons of saponin content in unwashed quinoa where the foam height is large. Conclusions: The …

Novel Αvβ6 Inhibitor Reduces Fibrotic Progression In Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Murine Model, Rebecca C. Viazzo Winegar

Theses and Dissertations

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is one of the most aggressive and severe interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) for which there is no cure. IPF is characterized by an excessive accumulation of fibroblasts which secrete an abundance of extracellular proteins such as collagen. These processes lead to repetitive tissue scarring and fibrosis in the lung parenchyma. As a result, lungs become rigid limiting oxygen intake and gas exchange. Once diagnosed, IPF is fatal within 2-3 years. There is no known cause or proven treatment that significantly improves outcomes. Although the cause is unknown, the current model of IPF suggests that an overactive …

Effects Of Caffeine Gum On Muscular Strength And Power In Recreationally Active Females, Lindsay D. Montgomery

Theses and Dissertations

Research indicates that a moderate dose of caffeine may enhance muscular strength and power, particularly in males. Less is known on caffeine’s impact on muscular performance in females. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a 200 mg dose caffeine gum on muscular strength and muscular power in recreationally active females. Nineteen women participated in 3 laboratory sessions, the first being the familiarization trial. During the next two visits, the participants were given either 200 mg of caffeine gum or a placebo gum, rested for 15 minutes, completed a 10 minute warm-up, then performed performance testing …

Chemical Investigation Of Avocado (Persea Americana) Seed Husk (Testa): A Waste Of Waste, Orlando A. Castillo Scheren

Theses and Dissertations

Food chemistry is a new field in the world and is currently still expanding into the types of market in which it can be tapped into. There are about 1.3 billion tons of food waste produced in 2016 in the world, and food chemistry is going to help get rid of that waste by finding new and exciting applications to the things currently considered as waste. In these products, there might be new and undiscovered drugs that can be used in the market to help treat diseases for which might not have a cure at the current moment. The avocado …

The Relationship Between The 9th Grade State Assessment And Extra Curricular School Activities And Gender For Disadvantaged Hispanic Students In South Texas, Paz Elizondo Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to analyze the relationship between the 9th grade state assessment test scores for Disadvantaged Hispanic students who are taking the English I State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness End-of-Course exam. The group analyzed was comprised of the 2016-2017 cohort students from a South Texas High School.

How Does Choosing Fitness Labeled Food Affect Consumer’S Intention To Forgo Exercise, Mei Han

Theses and Dissertations

As one of the most widely used marketing techniques, the role and effects of food labels have received significant attention from researchers. Different labels have very different influences and implications. This dissertation focuses on a unique persuasive language label: fitness label. This dissertation starts with a discussion on self-regulation mechanisms and research on goals, and their implications on how choosing fitness labeled food affects subsequent intention to forgo exercise.

This dissertation finds that the existence of response conflict in food choice, as well as the magnitude of the response conflict affect consumer’s reaction mechanisms, which in turn affect consumer’s exercise …

Effects Of Elevated Temperature On 8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine Expression, Dna Damage And Cellular Apoptosis In The American Oyster (Crassostrea Virginica), Md Faizur Rahman

Theses and Dissertations

Global temperature increases due to anthropogenic activities. The effects of rising temperature are well documented in aquatic organisms. The American oyster is an ideal shellfish species to study on global warming and oxidative DNA damage. In this study, We observed the effects of high temperature on heat shock protein-70 (HSP70), 8-hydroxy-2’-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), ssDNA, dsDNA, caspase-3 (CASP3), BAX and γH2AX, a molecular marker of DNA damage, protein expressions in gills of oysters. Immunohistochemical results showed that elevated temperatures (28 and 32°C) significantly increased HSP70, 8-OHdG, dsDNA, γH2AX, BAX and CASP3 protein expressions in gills of oysters compare to control (24°C). In …

Metabolomics Of Acid Whey Derived From Greek Yogurt, Muriel Mercedes Allen

Theses and Dissertations

Acid whey, a byproduct of Greek yogurt production, has little commercial value due to its low protein content and is also environmentally harmful when disposed of as waste. However, as a product of microbial fermentation, acid whey could be a rich source of beneficial metabolites associated with fermented foods. This study increases understanding of acid whey composition by providing a complete metabolomic profile of acid whey. Commercial and lab-made Greek yogurts, prepared with three different bacterial culture combinations, were evaluated. Samples of unfermented yogurt mix and cultured whey from each batch were analyzed. Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry metabolomics were …

A Comparison Of Strawberry (Fragaria X Ananassa) Cultivars Affected By Different Cultural Practices In Two Production Systems, Geoffrey Thomas Lalk

Theses and Dissertations

Strawberry cultivar performance affected by various cultural practices was investigated in two production systems. The first study investigated strawberry yield, fruit quality, and production timing of eight cultivars when using black and red plastic mulches in a high tunnel production system. The high tunnel increased air temperatures and advanced strawberry fruiting by four to six weeks compared to local openield production. The second study investigated plant growth, yield, and fruit quality of 10 cultivars fertilized with organic or conventional fertilizer and irrigated once or twice daily with the same total irrigation volume in a container system. Strawberry cultivars varied in …

Hemp Fiber – An Environmentally Friendly Fiber For Concrete Reinforcement, Brian Giltner

Theses and Dissertations

The commercial use of hemp fiber in the construction industry within the United States is non-existent. This lack of use is because of State and Federal laws forbidding the growth of hemp in the United States, which has led to a lack of research. Not having an established supply chain for hemp and coupled with limited research has put the United States behind other countries in finding viable options for these renewable resources. This is a study of the performance of raw hemp fibers and processed hemp twine in a cement past mixture subjected to tensile loading. Three water/cement ratios …

A Longitudinal Descriptive Study On The Sleep Of Young Adults With Developmental Disabilities, Emily E. Grubbs

Theses and Dissertations

Sleep is vital for optimal physical and mental health, as well as cognitive and social functioning. Young adults with developmental disabilities (DD) are at greater risk for physical and mental health disorders and experience limitations in cognitive and social functioning in ways that can prevent participation in meaningful activities associated with young adulthood. Sleep literature has reflected that persons with DD experience worse sleep than persons without DD. Suboptimal sleep could compromise functionality and thus participation in young adulthood activities. Not much is known however of the nature of sleep problems experienced by young adults with DD. This study is …

Comprehensive Survey Of Butterflies At The Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge, Jordan Gesell

Theses and Dissertations

In collaboration with the Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge, I collected detailed information on the butterflies (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea Latreille, 1802) of the refuge. I produced a comprehensive checklist of butterflies and skippers numbering 60 species. In addition, I collected data on flight periods as well as local plant community associations. Butterfly abundance surveys were conducted to assess seasonal habitat use across six site classes. Special emphasis was placed on pine forest at various stages of management for the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis). An exploratory analysis of butterfly diversity and abundance was conducted using non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS). …

The Use Of Tlr Ligands And Phytochemicals To Better Understand Gut Immunity In Zebrafish And Channel Catfish, Ann Elizabeth Peterman

Theses and Dissertations

Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands and phytochemical feed additives (PFAs) were evaluated in this study to determine the effects of immune stimulation on gut immunity in the zebrafish, Danio rerio, and the channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus. Rag1-/- (MT) zebrafish were used to study how the TLR ligands β-glucan and resiquimod (R848) affect the innate immune system in the gut of MT zebrafish. Enhanced expression of marker genes (NITR9, NCCRP-1 and MPEG-1) indicated stimulation of Natural Killer (NK) cells, non-specific cytotoxic cells (NCCs) and macrophages. After challenge with Edwardsiella ictaluri, MT zebrafish stimulated with β-glucan demonstrated higher survival and the presence of …

The Effect Of Light-Emitting Diode Light On The Growth, Egg Production, Egg Quality, Hormone Concentration And Health Of Hy-Line® W-36 Laying Hens, Ishab Poudel

Theses and Dissertations

Light-emitting diode (LED) is an improved light delivery technology that provides better energy efficiency, longer lifespan, and the ability to select a specific wavelength of light. We evaluated the effect of blue and red-LED on performance, behavior, egg quality, hormonal concentration, and prevalence of Avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC) like E. coli in pullets and laying hens raised in cageree housing system. Results showed that birds raised in blue-LED during the pullet phase had higher body weight and earlier onset of early lay. Red-LED increased the yolk percentage, illustrating that red-LED can stimulate reproduction. Red-LED also decreased the relative spleen …

Significance Of Heat Abatement Programs And Bulk Tank Milk Quality Parameters On Southeastern United States Dairy Farms, Zachary Mason

Theses and Dissertations

As part of the Southeast Quality Milk Initiative, this investigation analyzes relationships between several heat abatement management, housing and feeding practices that may influence cow thermal comfort with milk quality. Farms producing high quality milk have low bulk tank somatic cell (BTSCC) and bacteria or standard plate counts (BTSPC). Dairy farms in Kentucky (n = 96), Mississippi (n = 7), Tennessee (n = 84) and Virginia (n = 96) were surveyed. Management of heat abatement programs were associated with smaller BTSCC and BTSPC. Farms that used pasture as their primary housing system had greater BTSCS and BTSPC than farms that …

Diet Quality And Mental Health In College Students: Impact On Dietary Factors Including Intake Of Protein, Sugar, Vegetable And Omega-3 Fatty Acid On Depression, Yulu Wang

Theses and Dissertations

Depression is one of the most debilitating disorders among youth. Many factors impact depression risk, and dietary quality is one of the most significant modifiable factors. This work was to investigate whether diet quality, including protein, sugar, vegetables, and omega-3 fatty acids’ intake, had any effect on the development of depression. Data from 82 subjects were used for analysis. There was no significant relationship between Dietary Quality Index (p=.21, n=82) and depression based on this research. Results included total protein (p=.77, n=82), animal-based protein (p=.77, n=82), vegetable-based protein (p=.29, n=82), total sugar (p=.55, n=78), added sugar (p=.48, n=78), total vegetable …

Prevalence And Characterization Of Avian Pathogenic Escherichia Coli And Campylobacter In Mississippi Broilers, Tianmin Li

Theses and Dissertations

Avian pathogenic Escherichia. coli (APEC) and Campylobacter are pathogenic threats to poultry and human health, respectively. In this study, the prevalence of these pathogens in Mississippi broilers and their antimicrobial resistance (AMR) properties were investigated, and a multidrug-resistant APEC strain (APEC-O2-MS1170) was further explored by whole-genome sequencing (WGS). The efficacy of in ovo injection of Lactobacillus in reducing the APEC in broilers was evaluated. Results revealed a high prevalence of APEC and Campylobacter in broilers and broiler products. A lot of isolates were resistant to antibiotics of different sorts. Moreover, the in ovo administration of Lactobacillus did not reduce the …

In Ovo Vaccination Of Layer Chickens With 6/85 And Ts-11 Vaccine Strains Of Mycoplasma Gallisepticum, Abdulmohsen Alqhtani

Theses and Dissertations

Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) is the organism that causes avian respiratory mycoplasmosis, leading to chronic respiratory disease in chickens and infectious sinusitis in turkeys (Stipkovits and Kempf, 1996; Levisohn and Kleven, 2000). It is also responsible for reductions in egg production and other economic losses in the poultry industry (Stipkovits and Kempf, 1996; Levisohn and Kleven, 2000). Commercially, layer chickens are vaccinated against MG in the pullet phase before lay. In this dissertation, the potential application of in ovo vaccination in layer embryos for the subsequent early protection of pullets against field-strain MG infections was investigated. The use of different sites …

Methionine: An Essential Amino Acid And Potential Enhancer Of Antioxidant Systems In Swine Diets, Rebecca M. Humphrey

Theses and Dissertations

L-Methionine (L-Met) is a new product that supplies the biologically active form of methionine. Therefore, the objective of this study was to elucidate the benefits of dietary L-Met supplementation relative to the industry standard DL-Met. Sixteen gilts with an initial BW 81.2±7.93 kg were individually penned and randomly allotted to one of two equivalent dietary treatments for 37 days in 2 trials (8 pigs/trial): DL-Met (0.050% of diet) or L-Met (0.052% of diet). Body weight and feed intake were measured on days 0, 19, and 37 to calculate performance measures. Pigs were harvested and carcasses assessed on day 38. Liver, …

Household Food Insecurity And Its Determinants In The United States, Sweta Tiwari

Theses and Dissertations

Food insecurity is one of the biggest challenges facing American society today. Over 13.7 million US households were food insecure in the year 2019 and 19 million Americans lived in food deserts in the year 2015 (USDA, 2020, 2017). Despite food insecurities affecting communities in every corner of the country, there is a dearth of research on food security and food deserts. Therefore, the main objectives of this study are 1) to identify underlying neighborhood characteristics that predict the communities at higher nutritional risk, 2) to analyze the impacts of household characteristics on household food insecurity, and 3) to examine …

Examining Body Composition Differences Between Vegetarian And Non-Vegetarian Women, Carlie Mapp

Theses and Dissertations

Diet and lifestyle choices play a vital role in the overall health of an individual. There are many types of diets with varying instructions on what kind and how much of a food, or food group, should be eaten. This cross sectional study focused on possible health benefits of a vegetarian diet in regards to the body composition of non-vegetarian and vegetarian women. Total meat, poultry, seafood, and fish (MPSF) intake were separated into three categories to compare low-to-very-low, moderate, and high intake. Anthropometric measurements collected included waist to hip ratio (WHR), weight, height, and percentage of body fat. No …

Examining The Effectiveness Of The Junior Master Wellness Volunteer Program On Positive Youth Development Outcomes, Rocheryl Latrese Ware

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of the Junior Master Wellness Volunteer (JMWV) program on select positive youth development (PYD) outcomes among program participants. These outcomes included Competence in health literacy, Connection, Contribution, Character, and Confidence. Research questions were (1) Does participation in the JMWV program improve participants’ Competency in health literacy? (2) Does participation in the JMWV program improve participants’ perceived ability to Connect with and Contribute to their community? (3) Does participation in the JMWV program improve participants' perceived Character or ability to engage in and understand their community? (4) Does participation in the …

Exploring The Relationship Between Genetic Variation In Taste Receptor Genes And Salt Taste Perception Among People With Hypertension, Pradtana Tapanee

Theses and Dissertations

Different taste preferences and genetic variations may lead to particular food patterns that contribute to nutrient-related health outcomes such as hypertension. The objective of this study was to investigate single polymorphism of taste genes and salt taste perception in order to determine whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the salt taste receptor genes (SCNN1B, TRPV1) affect salt taste perception in hypertensive participants. A cross-sectional study of 253 adults age 20-82 from each group, hypertensive (49%) and normotensive (51%), were enrolled. Salt taste recognition threshold, food preference score, and salt taste receptor genotype were determined. The hypertensive group had a higher …

The Effects Of Passive Hallux Adduction On Posterior Tibial Artery Blood Flow Compared To The Lateral Plantar Artery, Jaysen Alani Hatch

Theses and Dissertations

Passive hallux adduction has been shown to decrease blood flow in the lateral plantar artery (LPA) in a non-weight-bearing condition. Further research in weight-bearing and shod conditions is necessary to explore relationships between altered blood flow and injury or tissue healing. However, measuring blood flow in a shod foot would require an alternate measurement location to accommodate footwear, such as the more proximal posterior tibial artery (PTA). PURPOSE: To determine changes in blood flow in the PTA and LPA subsequent to passive hallux adduction and to compare the observed changes between the two arteries. Second, to determine if measurement at …

Substance Use And Life-Course Narratives For Criminally Involved Veterans, Tyler J. Marcheschi

Theses and Dissertations

Criminal justice involvement stemming from substance use is a common issue with whichmilitary veterans struggle. Research on substance use has indicated that a multitude of negative life-course outcomes can result for individuals who abuse substances. While prior research has studied the relationships between substance use and military veterans, there is little empirical analysis that focuses on the narrative accounts of veterans and their experiences with substance use. The goal of the current thesis is to expand on this topic by exploring how criminally involved veterans experience substance use and the perceived impact substance use has on the life-course according to …

Komplikimet Akute Te Diabeti Mellit, Endrita Etemi

Theses and Dissertations

Në këtë punim trajtohet tema e diabetit duke u përqëndruar me theks të veçantë tek Diabeti mellit dhe komplikimet akute të tij. Sëmundja e diabetit konsiderohet mjaft e komplikuar, së cilës me studimet që i janë bërë, megjithë vështirësive, është arritur t’i gjendet një zgjidhje e pranueshme shkencore.

Marrë parasysh faktin se çfarë po bëhet në botë për luftimin dhe mposhtjen e kësaj sëmundje,në këtë hulumtim do të bëhen përpjekje që të bëhet një shqyrtim i hollësishëm i literaturës shkencore dhe të dalë kështu një punim i vlefshëm në lëmin e diabetit.Vlen të theksohet fakti se, tema është më shumë …

Nutraceutikët Dhe Ushqimet Funksionale, Elsaida Ibrahimi

Theses and Dissertations

Fraza "Le të jetë ushqimi ilaç dhe ilaçi të jetë ushqim", e krijuar nga Hipokrati mbi 2500 vjet më parë, po merr shumë interes sot ndërsa shkencëtarët dhe konsumatorët i kuptojnë përfitimet e shumta shëndetësore të disa ushqimeve. Këto ushqime përmbajnë përbërës që ndihmojnë në funksionin specifik të trupit dhe përmirësojnë shëndetin dhe mirëqenien tonë. Konsumatorët janë gjithnjë e më të interesuar për përfitimet shëndetësore të ushqimeve dhe kanë filluar të shikojnë përtej përfitimeve themelore të ushqimit. Interesimi i tyre drejtohet tek komponimet që gjenden në shumë ushqime të cilat parandalojnë sëmundjet dhe përmirësojnë shëndetin. Ushqimet funksionale dhe nutraceutikët japin …

The Impact Of Childhood Sexual Abuse On Adulthood Eating Disorders: When Healthy Eating Becomes Unhealthy, Audryn Andreoli

Theses and Dissertations

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC; 2020c) estimated that approximately 3.7 million children experience childhood sexual abuse (CSA) every year in the United States. CSA is a significant issue associated with negative psychosocial and health-related outcomes, including eating disorders (Afifi et al., 2017). While there has been substantial research completed regarding CSA and eating disorders, there is a significant gap in the literature regarding Orthorexia Nervosa (ON) and CSA. The present study sought to determine whether CSA is a risk factor ON and determine the relationship between frequency of occurrence of CSA, sex, race, previous eating disorder diagnosis, …

Social Media Rumination: The Impact Of Materialistic Value Orientation, Keeley Hynes

Theses and Dissertations

Previous research demonstrates that ruminating on social media content is associated with greater mental distress (Yang, Holden, Carter, & Webb, 2018). However, it is unclear what factors are associated with rumination. Using Self-Determination Theory (SDT) as a theoretical framework, this study examined how materialistic value orientation (MVO) predicted social media rumination in a sample of racially and socioeconomically diverse high school students at two waves of time. Those who are more materialistic value the means by which to gain possessions, and extrinsic life-goals associated with MVO are aimed at garnering external reinforcers such as money and social status (Richins & …