Digital Commons Network^™

Control Of Salmonella Biofilms By Essential Oils And Reduction Of Salmonella In Ground Turkey By Lauric Arginate And Carvacrol, Ademola Oladunjoye

Theses and Dissertations

Salmonella is often associated with retail poultry products. Our research evaluated the effect of temperature on the biofilm formation by Salmonella spp. and the efficacy of essential oils in controlling these biofilms on stainless steel surfaces. The sublethal concentrations of thyme, oregano and carvacrol at 0.006-0.012% suppressed biofilm formation by Salmonella spp. while concentrations at 0.05-0.1% reduced the biofilms of a three-strain mixture of Salmonella spp. by 7 logs. Carvacrol was evaluated in combination with lauric arginate for controlling the three-strain mixture of Salmonella spp. in ground turkey containing 1%, 7% or 15% fat. Higher concentrations of carvacrol (1%) or …

Cow-Calf Operations In The Southeastern United States: An Analysis Of Farm Characteristics And Production Risks, Tracey Scott Adkins

Theses and Dissertations

Beef cattle production in the southeastern United States differs in size, practice, and production type from other U.S. regions. Smaller, cow-calf type operations dominate in this region because the climate, forage availability, and other land use practices of farmers make this type of cattle operation more ideal for the Southeast. This research summarizes the current practices and characteristics that define the Southeastern cow-calf operation of today’s market and operating environment; it also examines the factors that influence the variability of beef production in these operations. Results indicate the following major points: 1.) 53.0% of respondents with commercial cows have fewer …

Effects Of Salinity On Growth, Oxygen Consumption Rate And Ion Regulation In Two Ages Of Alligator Gar Atractosteus Spatula, Daniel Edwin Schwarz

Theses and Dissertations

The alligator gar Atractosteus spatula is a euryhaline fish found in the Gulf of Mexico and surrounding drainages. However, the extent of its hypo-osmotic abilities are not well understood. To determine effect of salinity on growth, metabolic rate, and osmoregulation abilities the following question was developed: when does the alligator gar have the osmoregulatory capabilities to survive in hyperosmotic environments? To answer this question, two different age groups (60 and 330 days after hatch [DAH]) of juvenile alligator gar were exposed to 4 different salinities (0, 8, 16, and 24 ppt) for a 30-day period. Specific growth rate, oxygen consumption …

Efficacy And Biodegradability Of Pentachlorophenol In Conventional And Biodiesel Amended Carriers, Saeed Keshani Langroodi

Theses and Dissertations

Pentachlorophenol (PCP) is widely used as a wood preservative for wood products. It has been proposed that a modified PCP carrier system based on a diesel/biodiesel mixture should be used in place of the conventional diesel/KB3 carrier, but there is some question as to whether or not this modified carrier system can provide the same service life for wood products treated with PCP. The main objectives of this research were to evaluate: 1) the comparative biodegradability of PCP in soil containing either diesel/KB3 or diesel/biodiesel, and 2) the comparative decay resistance of wood treated with formulations containing either diesel/KB3 or …

Evaluation Of A Granulated Paper Waste Product As A Suitable Bedding Material For Horses, Amanda Arrington Youngblood

Theses and Dissertations

Three 14 day trials were used to compare granulated paper(GP) to pine pellets(PP) and wood shavings(WS) as bedding for horses. During days 1 through 5 stalls were cleaned daily of feces only, and stalls were cleaned of both feces and saturated areas from days 6 to 14. For stall cleanliness, PP was cleaner than both GP and WS. Initial pH was greater for both GP and WS compared to PP. The water holding capacity for WS was greater than PP and GP. On day 5 there was ammonia detected for WS during trial 1. GP and WS emitted more ammonia …

Validation Of Bioluminescent Escherichia Coli O157:H7 For Use As A Pre-Harvest Food Safety Model, Heather Ann Duoss

Theses and Dissertations

Cattle are naturally colonized by enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli within the gastrointestinal tract. The most notorious of the enterohemorrhagic E. coli is E. coli O157:H7, which can cause serious illness to humans if ingested. To ensure that the United States has a safe food supply, research is ongoing in pre-harvest food safety and pathogen intervention strategies. While advances in pre-harvest intervention strategies are encouraging, no method has proven to completely eliminate and/or control O157:H7. A key limitation to successful pathogen intervention strategies is the inability to track and monitor pathogens in a real-time fashion. Through the use of bioluminescent plasmids harboring …

Stress Responses And Attachment Of Listeria Monocytogenes In Food, Dongryeoul Bae

Theses and Dissertations

The rates of the US hospitalization and mortality caused by Listeria monocytogenes was estimated to be the highest of 31 food-borne pathogens including Salmonella, Escherichia coli, Campylobacter, and Clostridium. This pathogen has an ability to survive under extreme conditions widely found in the natural environment and food. Among 13 serovars L. monocytogenes serovar 4b, 1/2a and 1/2b are mainly associated with human listeriosis outbreaks. The deadliest outbreaks of human listeriosis and massive product recalls in multi-states were associated with ready-to-eat (RTE) food products such as mexican-style cheese, turkey deli meat, cabbage, and cantaloupes contaminated with the bacterium. Thus, contamination of …

Lipid Accumulation In Synthetic Wastewater-Grown Oleaginous Microorganisms, Andrew Thompson Ford

Theses and Dissertations

Wastewater has been shown to contain the necessary nutritive requirements for the growth of microorganisms. The term, oleaginous, has been given to a classification of microorganisms know to produce up to twenty percent of the weight as oil. This study is designed to examine the potential accumulation of lipids within an oleaginous consortium grown on synthetic wastewater. Potential of the fluorescent stain, Nile red, as a lipid detector is also emphasized. Percentages of extractables greater than thirtyive percent were achieved within the oleaginous consortium using a nitrogen-limited medium. Low pH was found to increase the percentages of extractables. Xylose was …

Growth And Swimming Endurance Of Juvenile Channel Catfish In High Temperature Environments, Michael B. Arnold

Theses and Dissertations

Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) are important to aquaculture and natural ecosystems, however little is known regarding effects of high summer temperatures, which are predicted to increase with climate change. Therefore, two studies were conducted to examine physiological effects of high temperatures on juvenile channel catfish. The first examined effects of three cycling thermal regimes (23-27°C, 27-31°C, and 31-35°C) characteristic of culture environments in Mississippi on growth, food consumption, feed conversion ratio, specific growth rate, and activity. The second study measured active and resting metabolic rates and swimming endurance at constant temperatures (27, 31, and 35°C). The best growth and feed …

Impact And Management Of Twospotted Spider Mite In Pre-Flowering Cotton, William Sidney Scott

Theses and Dissertations

Experiments were conducted to determine the impact of twospotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch, on cotton injury and yield. Artificial infestations were initiated at the three leaf stage of cotton growth and removed after specified durations of infestation. Yields were reduced for durations of infestation 21 days or greater. In a second experiment, the interactions between twospotted spider mite, thrips, at-planting insecticides, and foliar insecticides were studied to determine their impact on cotton yields. Twospotted spider mites and thrips reduced cotton yield. In a third experiment, twospotted spider mites were released from a central point in 0.024 hectare blocks of …

Evaluation Of Varying Digestible Lysine Levels On The Reproductive Parameters Of Cobb 500 Broiler Breeders And The Performance Of Their Progeny, Leonel Mejia

Theses and Dissertations

The effect of decreasing digestible lysine (dLys) intake by broiler breeder (BB) hens from 35 to 45 wk of age on their reproductive performance and performance of their progeny was evaluated. Two types of diets were fed: a diet from commercially available ingredients consisting of dLys intakes of 1,200 (IDL) and 1,010 mg/hen/day (ID) and a semi-purified diet with dLys intakes of 1,010 (SPL) and 600 mg/hen/day (SP). Hens fed the SPL and SP diets had lower hen-day egg production compared to BB hens fed the IDL and ID diets. Fertility and hatchability of eggs set were lowest (P <0.05) for hens fed the SPL diets. Chick weight at hatch was lower (P<0.05) for those that came from the SP and SPLed hens, but 42 and 56 day body weights (BW) were similar for all treatments. Marginal improvements (P<0.10) in FCR were seen at 42 and 56 days for chicks from IDed hens compared to IDL hens. A decrease in daily intake of dLys appeared to improve BB reproductive performance when hens were fed a semi-purified diet and the same response was not observed in hens fed a diet from commercially available ingredients. Furthermore, the progeny study revealed marginal improvements in some live performance parameters. In a second study, a diet based from corn-soybean meal and formulated to a dLys intake of 1,000 mg/hen/day (CS) and three diets composed primarily of corn, soybean meal, and DDGS with 1,000 (DDGS-1,000), 800 (DDGS-800), and 600 (DDGS-600) mg of dLys/hen/day were fed to evaluate the reproductive performance of BB hens from 24 to 42 wk of age. Feeding diets composed of commercially available ingredients with dLys intake levels below 1,000 mg/hen/day did not impact BB reproductive performance. Reduced BW, carcass and breast weight, and higher (P<0.05) back half weight at 42 days of age was observed from broilers that came from 26 wk old BB hens fed the DDGS-600 diet. Reducing dLys intake in later BB hen ages did not impact progeny performance or carcass characteristics. This suggests that Lys may be in dietary surplus concentrations for commercial breeders under current practical conditions.

Parental And Family Predictors Of Adolescent Weight Loss And Health Change In A Multidisciplinary Obesity Intervention, Jacqueline Woods

Theses and Dissertations

The home environment, parental health attitudes, and parental diet and exercise behaviors have been associated with childhood obesity. The current study utilized a family systems framework to examine the effect of these variables on weight and health changes in a primarily Black sample of 530 parent-adolescent dyads enrolled in a multidisciplinary weight loss intervention. Parent-reported psychosocial variables and demographic information were used to test models predicting changes in adolescents’ body mass index, cholesterol, and percentage body fat over the first six months of the intervention. The effect of parent participation in a psycho-education parent group on adolescent health outcomes was …

Identification Of Latent Subgroups Of Obese Adolescents Enrolled In A Healthy Weight Management Program, Cassie Brode

Theses and Dissertations

In obesity research, it is assumed that the population is homogeneous. While this approach has yielded important insights, testing this supposition might reveal information that could impact our understanding of the phenomena and its treatment. In this study, data from obese teenagers (N = 248, Mean BMI percentile = 99%; Mean age = 13.9, SD = 1.8) who were predominantly minority (n = 182), female (n = 169), and enrolled in a weight loss intervention were analyzed. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was used to segment patients into groups based on their scores on PedsQL 4.0 scales (physical-, emotional-, social-, and …

Unavailable And Inaccessible: An Analysis Of Urban Food Insecurity, Stephen Brown

Theses and Dissertations

This study explored food insecurity by examining the ways in which residents of low-income, urban communities access food. The primary elements of this thesis are an analysis of the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of the populations surrounding food retailers, and a survey of the availability, cost, and quality of fresh fruits and vegetables in food stores commonly found in the urban environment. Overall, this study found that low-income, minority communities are largely served by independent supermarkets, small grocers and convenience stores that charge higher prices for staple foods. Conversely, it was found that wealthy areas enjoy easy access to corporate …

Evaluation Of Psychological Services Provied In A University-Based Primary Care Clinic, Elizabeth Sadock

Theses and Dissertations

Primary care clinics are increasingly integrating psychological services into their service programs; however few studies have provided quantitative data to support these services. This study served as a program evaluation of the psychological services provided at the Ambulatory Care Clinic at the Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center in Richmond, Virginia. It includes: 1) a description of the program, including types of patients served, their presenting problems, and treatments administered and 2) evidence of the impact of mental health services on primary care patients’ emotional adjustment and progress on behavioral goals. Data on exposure to stressful life events and intake and …

Impacts Of Rdx Soil Contamination Across An Age Gradient For The Native Shrub Morella Cerifera., Stephen Via

Theses and Dissertations

Understanding the impacts of explosive contamination on vegetation is key to understanding explosives behavior in the environment. I quantified shrub growth responses to 1,3,5-trinitroperhydro-1,35-triazine (RDX) soil contamination across three life stages and I hypothesized that RDX would have the greatest impact on seed germination. Morella cerifera seeds were germinated on soils amended with RDX up to 1500 mg RDX kg-1 dry soil. Juvenile and adult individuals were exposed for 6 weeks to soil amended with RDX up to 750 and 1500 mg RDX kg-1 dry soil, respectively. Morphological responses were quantified for juveniles while physiological measurements were quantified for adults. …

Quantification Of Preterm Infant Feeding Coordination: An Algorithmic Approach, Pallavi Ramnarain

Theses and Dissertations

Oral feeding competency is a primary requirement for preterm infant hospital release. Currently there is no widely accepted method to objectively measure oral feeding. Feeding consists primarily of the integration of three individual feeding events: sucking, breathing, and swallowing, and the objective of feeding coordination is to minimize aspiration. The purpose of this work was to quantify the infant feeding process from signals obtained during bottle feeding and ultimately develop a measure of feeding coordination. Sucking was measured using a pressure transducer embedded within a modified silicone bottle block. Breathing was measured using a thermistor embedded within nasal cannula, and …

Evidence-Based Interdisciplinary Cultural Competence Training In Public Health, Joni Tweeten

Theses and Dissertations

The United States is quickly becoming more racially and ethnically diverse, and the associated health dispmities are growing at an alarming rate. Culturally competent care and services can help reduce these disparities by enhancing the quality of care for all clients, especially those at risk for dispaiities. A public health workforce that is well-equipped with knowledge of cultural competence and the tools to practice it will be able to better meet the needs of the changing populations with which they work. To effectively improve the cultural competence of interdisciplinary public health teams, evidence-based interdisciplinary training is needed to provide effective …

Chronic Medical Disorders And Stressful Life Events In Late Life Depression In Older Adults, Comfort T. Seibure,

Theses and Dissertations

Approximately 7 million of the nation's adults aged 65 years and older are affected by depression, which leaves them with persistent feeling of sadness, anxiety, emptiness hopelessness and pessimism. The purpose of this independent study is to provide a review of the literature of late life depression (LLD) in the context of chronic medical disorders and stressful life events, detection tools and methods of interventions. Evidence indicates that comorbid depression is often misdiagnosed and undertreated or not diagnosed at all in older adults. The tendency for older adults to have chronic medical disorders, experiencing stressful 10 life events are high …

Use Of Evidence To Assess Decreased Agitation In Alzheimer's Patients With Music Therapy, Rebecca Kreis

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this paper is to provide evidence-based research of the literature on music therapy as an intervention for agitation in Alzheimer's dementia patients. An agitated behavior state continues to be one of the most challenging behavior states in caring for individuals with Alzheimer's disease. An extensive review of the literature showed that music therapy is a successful, easy to apply, low cost intervention for agitated behavior in Alzheimer's disease patients

Cardiovascular Disease And Vitamin D Deficiency, Lori Nelson

Theses and Dissertations

Vitamin D deficiency is a common health condition affecting a significant number of individuals throughout the world. For years vitamin D has generated interest in reducing osteoporosis because of its role in bone and calcium metabolism. Recently low concentrations have been linked to the development of several cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, heart failure, atherosclerosis and peripheral arterial disease. The purpose of this article is to examine evidence regarding vitamin D deficiency and cardiovascular disease and provide advanced practice nurses with recommendations regarding supplementation in those individuals with vitamin D deficiency and risk for development of cardiovascular disease.

Evidence Related To Tcu Geriatric Patients With Tha Or Tka. Do Narcotics Improve Patient Recovery Time?, Dixie Olson

Theses and Dissertations

Pain in the elderly often goes unrecognized until the pain is critical and difficult to manage. Insufficient pain management increases morbidity, mortality, and it can lead to multiple aggravating circumstances which may impede recovery from total hip arthroplasty (THA) or total knee arthroplasty (TKA). These adverse conditions and circumstances include: poor quality of life, physiological and psychological problems, anxiety, depression, sleep deprivation, nausea, vomiting, delirium, falls, urinary retention, constipation, dysesthetic itching, extended recovery time due to patients guarding affected limb and/or complications from inactivity such as pneumonia, deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). Slower recovery may lead to …

Home-Based Primary Care: A Return Of The House Call, Nicole M. Windjue

Theses and Dissertations

Retention and recruitment of providers is an ongoing stmggle in small and rural communities and poses a significant public health concern in meeting the needs of our aging population. This unfortunate situation will force many of our aging adults and home bound elders out of their homes and into skilled nursing facilities or assisted living environments long before they would have otherwise required skilled care. Providing primary care visits in the home is one way of addressing this issue. The medical and nursing communities have an obligation and a difficult challenge in providing our aging elders with a continuity of …

Using Bundles To Prevent Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia In Intubated Adult Icu Patients, Jessica Bleth Buchholz

Theses and Dissertations

VAP is a pneumonia which occurs within 48 hours of intubation. The nature of intubation itself, comorbidities and aspiration all contribute to development of VAP. VAP increases health care costs as well as patient morbidity and mortality. Prevention is necessary to protect patients and decrease incidence of VAP in intubated adult intensive care patients. Implementation of VAP bundles can help reduce risk and improve patient outcomes.

A bundle is a grouping of interventions aimed at a common cause. Ventilator bundles were originally implemented as a way to decrease complications occurring in intubated patients. Interventions such as sequential devices for deep …

Hypertension: Lifestyle Modifications In The Prevention And Treatment, Natalie J. Gustafson

Theses and Dissertations

Serious health consequences related to hypertension are amenable to lifestyle modifications. Therefore, the objective of this paper is to review the literature to determine evidence-based lifestyle recommendations in the prevention and treatment of hypertension. Searches were completed through Pub Med and CINAHL. Search terms included "blood pressure," "hypertension," "behavior modifications," and "lifestyle changes." Initial searches lead to the following primary topics of research: alcohol intake, food habits, sodium reduction, weight loss, exercise and behavior therapy. The findings of this literature review indicate that in the prevention and treatment of hypertension; alcohol intake should be reduced, a DASH style dietary pattern …

Childhood Obesity: Intervening In Utero, Mary Lee Beck

Theses and Dissertations

The prevalence of childhood obesity has risen to epidemic proportions in this country. American Indian youth are disproportionately affected by this epidemic and its comorbidities, like diabetes, when compared to whites, and even other minorities. There is no single determinant of cause. Currently interventions are focused at the individual, family, community and environmental levels. Perhaps the most important component in this epidemic, however, is being overlooked: the health status of the mother during pregnancy. There is strong evidence that obesity and diabetes are perpetually cycled from mother to baby during pregnancy, and maternal obesity and diabetes play a significant role …

Molecular Analysis And Localization Of A Novel Dictyostelium Discoideum Rab Protein, Rabs, Katherine V. Maringer

Theses and Dissertations

Functional analysis and localization of the small GTPase RabS in the slime mold, Dictyostelium discoideum, was explored using cell lines that over-express a GFP tagged RabS protein. Based on homology to Rab1, Golgi association was explored. Immunofluoresence analysis of the intracellular localization of this GFP tagged protein revealed that this GFP-Rab had a partial co-localization with the contractile vacuole organelle system. Additionally, when the over-expressed RabS cell lines were exposed to selective biochemical inhibitors, the GFP-Tagged Rab localized with what can be assumed is the Golgi network. This dual localization of Golgi and CV may support a previously proposed connection …

Improving Nutrition In Toddlers And Preschool Children With Cystic Fibrosis: Behavioral Parent Training Intervention, Shannon Estelle Hourigan

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this single-case study was to pilot a developmentally sensitive adaptation of an evidence-based intervention aimed at improving nutrition in children with cystic fibrosis (CF). Children with CF must adhere to a high-calorie diet to prevent malnutrition and maintain health. Toddler and preschool age children present a unique feeding challenge to parents as they begin to exert independence and exhibit a variety of challenging behaviors. Parents trying to adhere to CF nutrition guidelines often use ineffective strategies that inadvertently encourage children not to eat. This six-week group parent-training intervention combined nutrition and behavior elements to provide parents with …

Sex Differences In The Oxygen Uptake Kinetic Response To Moderate Intensity Exercise In Obese Adolescents, Mary Bowen

Theses and Dissertations

The oxygen uptake (VO2) kinetic response to exercise provides insight into aerobic performance and the efficiency of the body to maintain oxygen demand during the initiation of exercise. Previous research in normal weight children reports insignificant differences in gender VO2 on-kinetic responses to moderate exercise. No study has evaluated the impact obesity may have on gender VO2 on-kinetics. PURPOSE: To determine if sex differences exist in the VO2 kinetic response to moderate exercise in obese adolescents. METHODS: Male (n=16) and female (n=39) adolescents completed a graded exercise test to exhaustion on a treadmill. Data from initial 4-min treadmill walking was …

The Impact Of Maternal Influences On Early Childhood Dental Caries, Rana Graham-Montaque

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the maternal influences on the development of infant oral biofilm and early childhood dental caries. Methods: The study utilized a cross-sectional design to evaluate factors influencing biofilm colonization and the identification of bacterial strains present in mother and child by utilizing oral health literacy surveys, clinical examinations, and plaque samples. Participants were enrolled in the Children’s Health Involving Parents of Greater Richmond (CHIP). Plaque samples and dental disease levels were collected from mother and children ages six months to thirty-six months. Oral Health Literacy was compared to both mother and child’s …