Digital Commons Network^™

Reduced Immune Investment With Energy Stress: Evidence From A Mouse Model And Human Studies, Alaina L. Schneider

Theses and Dissertations

During periods of energy stress, animals will prioritize and allocate energy from non-essential to essential tasks. Using a mouse model and published human data, we found that during periods of energy stress, energy is allocated away from immune function, and is prioritized for physical activity usage.

Domestic Cat Ethology: Evaluating Social Media For Data Collection, Patricia Casey

Theses and Dissertations

This study looked at whether user-submitted videos of cats could be used to increase understanding of their behavior. The findings suggest that the behaviors observed were consistent with prior research, and contain typical cat behavior. Depending on the research question, user-submitted videos of cats are a promising data source.

The Effect Of Cocoa Flavanols On Β-Cell Mass And Function, Thomas John Rowley

Theses and Dissertations

A hallmark of type 2 diabetes (T2D) is β-cell dysfunction and the eventual loss of functional β-cell mass. Therefore, mechanisms that improve or preserve β-cell function could be used to improve the quality of life of individuals with T2D. Studies have shown that monomeric, oligomeric and polymeric cocoa flavanols have different effects on obesity, insulin resistance and glucose tolerance. We hypothesized that these cocoa flavanols may have beneficial effects on β-cell function. INS-1 832/13 derived β-cells and primary rat islets cultured with a monomeric catechin-rich cocoa flavanol fraction demonstrated enhanced glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, while cells cultured with total cocoa extract, …

Space Use, Resource Selection, And Survival Of Reintroduced Bighorn Sheep, Rusty Wade Robinson

Theses and Dissertations

Successful management of bighorn sheep depends on understanding the mechanisms responsible for population growth or decline, habitat selection, and utilization distribution after translocations. We studied a declining population of desert bighorn sheep in the North San Rafael Swell, Utah to determine birthdates of neonates, demographics, limiting factors, population size, probable cause of death, production, and survival. We documented 19 mortalities attributed to a variety of causes including cougar predation (n = 10, 53%), bluetongue virus (n = 2, 11%), reproductive complications (n = 2, 11%), hunter harvest (n = 1, 5%), and unknown (n = 4, 21%). Annual survival of …

Development Of Lower Rio Grande River Water Quality Transportation Numerical Model For Bi-National River Management, Jose O. Gonzalez

Theses and Dissertations

Traditionally, water quality modelling has focused on modelling individual water bodies. However, water quality management problems must be analyzed at the larger scale to include influences from various water bodies that are interconnected. This paper provides a study on the hydrologic and quality transportation calculation by developing a hydrodynamic (unsteady state) channel routing model using a water-balanced approach. A one dimension Lagrangian river model was developed and applied to the 210 plus miles for the lower Rio Grande River Basin from the Falcon Dam to the head water of Brownsville that pours onto the Gulf of Mexico. This model can …

Teacher Perceptions Of School Breakfast Programs In Utah, Emily Breanne Krueger

Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this study was to identify differences in teacher perceptions of benefits, challenges, and preferences to different School Breakfast Program (SBP) service models. A survey instrument was developed, pilot tested, and then distributed electronically to K-12 teachers throughout the state of Utah, who were part of the Utah Education Association. Demographics and factors influencing SBP models in Utah were gathered. Frequencies and ANOVA tests were performed and a significance level of <0.01 was chosen to protect for multiple comparisons. Results indicated that traditional breakfast was the most preferred model with a mean score of 2.80 and breakfast in the classroom was the least preferred model by teachers with a mean of -1.32. Children not going hungry was identified as the greatest benefit (95.4%, n=352) to SBP and food waste was identified as the greatest challenge (45.8%, n=168). This study concluded that increased awareness and education amongst teachers regarding different models of SBP service could lead to increased efficiency, increased participation in SBP, decreased costs, decreased food waste, and increased academic performance and health benefits for students.

The Relationship Between Microbiota, Diet, And Energy Production In The Alpaca, Courtney Carroll

Theses and Dissertations

The alpaca is a small South American camelid (SAC) that is an important production animal in Peru, especially among the highly impoverished communities of the high Andes, and raised for its fiber and meat. Alpacas are highly reliant on the microbes within their digestive tracts to digest the plant material they consume; volatile fatty acids (VFAs) are released as a byproduct of this microbial fermentation and used as a major source of energy by the alpaca. To explore optimal parameters for alpaca microbiome analysis, performed 16S rRNA gene surveys on alpaca C1 and fecal samples that had been extracted using …

Mri T2 Signal Changes Indicate Tau Pathophysiology In A Murine Alzheimer's Disease Model, Rajan Deep Adhikari

Theses and Dissertations

Pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment, the essential domains in medical practice, seem helpless to address Alzheimer's disease (AD). With a huge mortality rate, it is looming and threatening the socioeconomic barrier. Despite many different studies, the pathogenesis of AD remains inconclusive. However, growing numbers of studies suggest oxidative stress to contribute to the initiation and progression of AD. We propose an iron hypothesis: iron mediated oxidative damage by reactive oxygen species (ROS), which induces protective roles of amyloid beta and hyper-phosphorylated tau (HP-tau) to sequester iron and limit the disease. We propose to study such mechanism using transgenic mice models for …

Students’ Time In Their Heart Rate Zone With And Without Polar Display, Amy Marzano

Theses and Dissertations

The lack of physical activity (PA) and rise in sedentary behavior has become an increasing problem in the United States (Owen, Sparling, Healy, Dunstan & Matthews, 2010). The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS) recommends sixty minutes of daily PA for young people ages 6-17 (CDC, 2013). Despite this recommendation, the 2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data reported that only 24% of youth 12-15 years of age were obtaining sixty minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) every day (Fakhouri, et al., 2014). Physical education (PE) is one of the few environments where all children are …

Factors Influencing Health Behaviors In Those At Risk For Developing Schizophrenia, Adriana C. Pennacchi

Theses and Dissertations

Significant health concerns are common among those with schizophrenia- spectrum disorders and are associated with an average lifespan reduction of 15-20 years compared to the general public (Saha, Chant, & McGrath, 2007). Although symptoms of the disorder can disrupt self-care and health behaviors, evidence also suggests that problematic health behaviors are present before the onset of the manifest disorder. One example includes nicotine use which is elevated in those with a family history of schizophrenia (Ferchiou et al., 2012) and in those who show subclinical signs of risk for schizophrenia (Esterberg, Jones, Compton, & Walker, 2007). Despite these findings, there …

A Study Of The Effects Of Thinking Maps On The Achievement Of Students In Middle Grades Science, Lynn B. Hughes Akin

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if the usage of Thinking Maps® influenced the achievement scores of middle grades students in science on the Georgia Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests (CRCT) over a period of two years. Science test scores for the 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 school years were analyzed by grade level and usage in SPSS and SAS, and after transformations were completed, non-parametric ANOVAs were conducted based on non-normal distributions. Science teachers were surveyed regarding their perceptions and usage of Thinking Maps®. The scores and surveys were then analyzed for simultaneous effects.

The results of the study for the …

Co-Localization Patterns Of Aquaporin-4 With Amyloid Beta And Cd68 In Alzheimer's Disease And Cerebrovascular Disease, Anthony Bryan Crum

Theses and Dissertations

Aquaporin-4 (AQP4) is a key component in maintaining proper glymphatic flow. In recent years, the glymphatic system has been discovered and approached as a major factor in amyloid plaque clearance in Alzheimer's disease. This study examines the depolarization of AQP4 from the astrocytic endfeet and subsequent co-localization with amyloid plaques in the hippocampus and subiculum. Results show a significant pattern of co-localization in advanced Alzheimer's disease, as well as increases in AQP4 in cerebrovascular disease. This pattern shows AQP4 should be approached as a promising therapeutic area in future research.

Effects Of Curcumin And Ursolic Acid On The Mitochondrial Coupling Efficiency And Hydrogen Peroxide Emission Of Intact Skeletal Myoblasts, Daniel J. Tueller

Theses and Dissertations

Curcumin is a natural compound that improves blood glucose management. While some evidence from isolated mitochondria indicates that curcumin uncouples electron transport from oxidative phosphorylation, the effects of curcumin on mitochondrial respiration and hydrogen peroxide emission in intact skeletal muscle cells are not known. By assessing rates of oxygen consumption, we demonstrated for the first time that curcumin (40 µM) reduced the mitochondrial coupling efficiency (percentage of oxygen consumption that supports ATP synthesis) of intact skeletal muscle cells. A 30-minute incubation with curcumin decreased mitochondrial coupling efficiency by 17.0 ± 0.4% relative to vehicle (p < 0.008). Curcumin also decreased the rate of hydrogen peroxide emission by 43 ± 13% compared to vehicle (p < 0.05). Analysis of cell respiration in the presence of curcumin revealed a 40 ± 4% increase in the rate of oxygen consumption upon curcumin administration (p < 0.05 compared to vehicle). In additional experiments, no difference in mitochondrial coupling efficiency was observed between vehicle- and curcumin-pretreated cells after permeabilization of cell membranes (p > 0.7). The possibility of synergistic …

Role Of Terrestrial Organic Matter In Food Webs Of The Rocky Intertidal Zone, Douglas O. Fairbanks

Theses and Dissertations

Terrestrial organic matter (TOM) constitutes an important source of energy in many aquatic environments (streams, lakes, wetlands). This is the first study to examine the role of TOM in food webs of the rocky intertidal zone. We compared the consumption of red alder leaves (Alnus rubra) to common marine sources of drifting detritus along the southern Oregon coast (Nereocystis luetkeana, Phyllospadix spp., and Fucus gardneri). We used short term (hours to days) and long term (months) feeding experiments to compare the rate of consumption among each plant species during the Spring and Fall of 2014 …

Sagittal Abdominal Diameter, Waist Circumference, And Bmi As Predictors Of Multiple Measures Of Glucose Metabolism: An Nhanes Investigation Of U.S. Adults, Shelby Anne Firouzi

Theses and Dissertations

OBJECTIVE: The key objective of the present investigation was to compare associations between sagittal abdominal diameter (SAD), waist circumference, and BMI to the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), along with fasting glucose, HbA1c, and HOMA-IR, in a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults. The study also analyzed the effect of multiple covariates on the anthropometric and glucose metabolism associations. METHODS: A cross-sectional design, including 3,582 subjects, was used. SAD was assessed using an abdominal caliper. All other data were collected following strict NHANES protocol. The OGTT was the primary variable used to index glucose metabolism. Fasting glucose, HbA1c, and HOMA-IR …

Central Precocious Puberty Alters The Mammary Gland Epithelial Landscape In Female Rats, Alina M. Hamilton

Theses and Dissertations

Precocious puberty (PP) is a serious endocrine disorder associated with an increased risk for development of breast cancer (BC) later in life. However, the lack of a strong in vivo model has made it difficult to study this relationship. Our group has established manganese (Mn) as a non-toxic activator of the pubertal process. Recently we demonstrated that Mn-induced precocious puberty (MnPP) accelerates E2-regulated mammary gland (MG) development in prepubertal female rats, resulting in persistent proliferation and adult hyperplasia. Using this model, I demonstrate that precocious puberty alters steroidal regulation of proliferation in both the prepubertal and adult virgin MG, altering …

The Effects Of Income And Ethnicity On Health Outcomes Of Mexican Immigrant And Anglo Women, Andrea M. Debarros

Theses and Dissertations

The Hispanic Paradox is the finding that Hispanic immigrants living in the United States have better health than Anglo Americans despite being socioeconomically disadvantaged (Crespo et al., 1996; Stern et al., 1999; Sundquist et al., 1999; Dixon et al, 2000; Lariscy et al., 2015; Overton et al., 2015; Thomson et al., 2013). The literature surrounding the Hispanic Paradox has studied these effects primarily in Mexican-American Immigrant populations (Sundquist et al., 1999; Dixon et al, 2000; Lariscy et al.); however, additional research has found similar findings for various other Hispanic countries such as Cuba and Puerto Rico (Abraido-Lanza, A F. et …

Bacterial Community Ecology Of The Colon In Mus Musculus, Rachel Marie Nettles

Theses and Dissertations

The gut microbiome is a community of closely interacting microbes living in the gastrointestinal tract. Its structure has direct relevance to health. Disturbances to the microbiome, such as due to antibiotic use, have been implicated in various diseases. The goal of this study was to determine how the gut microbiome reacts to and recovers from disturbance caused by antibiotics. Because diet also influences the microbiome, this study included the interaction between diet and antibiotics. Half of the mice in each diet treatment were given antibiotics to disturb their microbiomes. After cessation of antibiotics, mice were paired in combinations within diets …

The Supervision Of School Nurses In New Jersey: Parallel Needs, Actions, And Impacts On Student Care, Lee-Ann Halbert

Theses and Dissertations

New Jersey Certified School Nurses (NJ-CSNs) practice in an environment of parallel needs and actions where the primary goal is the education of the students in the building, yet the health and safety of each student are paramount. The research presented here evaluates how the supervision provided to the NJ-CSNs affects their clinical practice and other areas of decision-making in the school setting. This mixed methods research study of 557 NJ-CSNs reveals that school nurses who are supervised by an educator whose background includes being a registered nurse are better able to provide the optimal support for the nurses, and …

A Blended Learning Education Policy In Egypt: The Road For Better Access And Social Inclusion, Seif El Din Abou Zaid

Theses and Dissertations

The quality of public school education in Egypt has been on a declining slope for years, facing many challenges such as poor quality, high dropout rates and a mismatch between the market needed skills and those of students. The purpose of this study is to explore whether blended learning is a viable solution to Egypt’s educational ailments, with improving equity as the focus. With no dominant literature trends on the subject or enough access to public education data, the chosen research method was to conduct in-depth interviews with national and international experts on blended learning. All interviewed experts believe that …

The Pendulum Of Development: From "The End Of History" To "Make Poverty History", Abby El-Shafei

Theses and Dissertations

Poverty has been a central focus of development since the 1960s. Despite a marked decrease in poverty worldwide, the incidence of poverty remains high; where one in ten people live under the international poverty line of $1.90 a day. In light of the persistence of poverty, international efforts to “make poverty history” have been pursued. Neoliberalism is an economic policy characterized by state retrenchment, free trade, market liberalization, deregulation, privatization, commercialized social programs, and foreign investment. Since its triumph over communism, neoliberalism marked “the end of history.” This thesis examines poverty reduction and neoliberalism in the context of international development …

Quality Education In Idaho: A Case Study Of Academic Achievement In Three High-Poverty Rural Schools, Christine Brown

Theses and Dissertations

The focus of this research is bridging the achievement gap for students living in poverty through quality education. Such a study is important because the percentage of students affected by poverty is increasing and the persistent gap in achievement evidences that the right to quality education for students in poverty is not being met. This is mixed-methods study of three high-poverty elementary schools in Idaho. Both quantitative (achievement test scores) and qualitative data (interviews of seventeen teachers and principals) are compared and contrasted. The findings provide evidence that quality education for students in poverty requires relatable curriculum, teachers who are …

Correlation Of Spme-Gc-Ms Volatile Compounds With Descriptive Sensory Odor Analysis Of Whole Wheat And Quinoa Flours In Accelerated Storage, Sarah Snow Turner

Theses and Dissertations

The acceptability of whole grain flours during storage varies widely, as does the estimated shelf life of such flours, in part because acceptability is typically determined using subjective human sensory testing. Research is needed to establish more objective measures of acceptability. This study correlated the quantitative results of a descriptive odor sensory panel with volatile compounds determined by solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatograph-mass spectrometry (SPME-GC-MS). Whole wheat flour and quinoa flour were held at 40°C for up to 24 weeks to accelerate changes occurring during storage. Samples were collected every 4 weeks and placed in frozen storage. Thawed samples were then evaluated …

Livelihood Coping Strategies Of Women Heads Of Households In Cairo's Informal Settlements: The Case Of Izbet El Haggana, Nora Rafea

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates the livelihood coping strategies of women heads of households in Cairo’s informal settlements. Its research problem centers on the premise that urban poverty is underestimated in Egypt, in addition, the growing rate of ‘urbanization’ is increasing the vulnerability of women heads of households. The study is focused on Cairo’s informal areas as they represent a shelter for millions of rural migrants to the city. Informal areas in Cairo generally called “ashwa’eyat” in Arabic are either stigmatized or rationalized, yet, the nature of their informality and proximity to the urban center, and sometimes, even government establishments make them …

The Challenges And The Policies Of Media Literacy Programs In Egyptian Schools, Salma Sherif El Ghetany

Theses and Dissertations

Current limitations in Egypt hinder citizens from obtaining an acceptable understanding of the effects of current affairs on their daily lives; these limitations include a rigid state control on news media, an absence of journalistic ethical standards that result in wide spreading of rumors, polarity and political bias, and a lack of adequate media awareness. Citizens need to be equipped to overcome these obstacles in media systems by developing a good understanding of the media landscape, challenge defective media practices, and acquire needed skills to filter information for reliability and accuracy. Citizens should learn the value of the media around …

Changing Littering Behavior Among University Students In Egypt: Integration Of Community Readiness And Community-Based Social Marketing, Nevin Torky

Theses and Dissertations

Litter is simultaneously the most ignored and most visible form of environment degradation and is harmful to the health of humans and wildlife. The littering problem in Egypt is a major issue that can be seen in most of Egyptian neighborhoods. Many countries are working on litter reduction strategies, studies and programs to be litter free countries. In Egypt, there is almost no literature or national initiatives that address littering. There is an obvious need to study littering behavior and develop intervention programs to reduce litter in Egyptian communities. This study aims to help to change adult littering behavior as …

Attitudes And Preferences About The Stepped-Care Model Of Depression Treatment In Oncology: A Pilot Study, Juliana Alessandra D'Onofrio

Theses and Dissertations

The current pilot study examines the feasibility of conducting a full-scale study that utilizes a survey-based cross-sectional methodological design. The purpose was to systematically explore the attitudes about the Stepped-Care (SC) Model of depression treatment, specific treatment preferences for depression, and client characteristics of a sample of women diagnosed with breast cancer. A total of 26 women were recruited from a breast cancer clinic located in the Northeastern United States. Preliminary results indicated that participants on average rated treatments within the SC Model as acceptable, tended to prefer step three (e.g. psychotherapy, medication, or a combined approach) or step two …

For(Years<28), Ricardo A. Contreras Jr

Theses and Dissertations

A life written in code, and code written in prose.

Fostering Social-Emotional Skills: A Cross-County Comparison Of The New Jersey Early Intervention System, Abigail Alston

Theses and Dissertations

The positive influence of early intervention on the future success of infants and toddlers who qualify for these services has been supported by various studies. Social-emotional skills, a targeted outcome of early intervention services, are an essential component of a child's social and academic success. New Jersey County Determination Reports demonstrate a disparity between the percentage of children entering early intervention with social-emotional skills below age expectation and then proceeding to exit early intervention with substantially increased social-emotional skills. The purpose of this study was to understand whether certain variables impacted these percentages. Variables investigated for each county included the …

The Effectiveness Of The Flipped Classroom For Students With Learning Disabilities In An Algebra I Resource Setting, Ashley Butterick

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was: (a) to examine the effectiveness of using the flipped classroom model to improve the academic scores of students with a specific learning disabilities (SLD), (b) to examine the effectiveness of using the flipped classroom to improve rates of homework completion by students with a SLD and (c) to evaluate student satisfaction and perception of the flipped classroom intervention. Five high school students, four males and one female, with a SLD participated in the study. A single subject ABAB design was used. During the baseline phases, students received Algebra I instruction through a traditional classroom …