Digital Commons Network^™

The Bacterial Community Of A Freshwater Sponge, Radiospongilla Cerebellata: A Comparison Of Terminal Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphisms (T -Rflp) And 16s Rrna Clone Library Methods, Andrew Stephen Mobley

All ETDs from UAB

No abstract provided.

Sexual Risk Behavior Among African-American Adolescents: Trajectories And Their Predictors, Maureen Muchimba

All ETDs from UAB

Although adolescents in the United States are at high risk of sexually transmitted infections and HIV, research indicates that many do not use condoms consistently and have high numbers of lifetime multiple sexual partners. Among adolescents, different subgroups exhibit distinct patterns of sexual behavior over time. The purpose of this dissertation was to identify trajectories of sexual risk behavior among adolescents and to determine individual, family and community factors that are predictive of membership to trajectory groups. Data were collected on sexual risk behavior among low-income African-American adolescents in Mobile County, Alabama. Gender-balanced subsamples of risky sex (N = 1294) …

Oral Lesions As Clinical Markers For Antiretroviral Therapy Failure In Hiv Patients, Irene M. Tamí-Maury

All ETDs from UAB

The true nature of the association of oral lesions (OL) and gold standards of HIV progression, CD4+ T cell counts (CD4) and HIV-1 RNA viral load (VL), is not completely clear, especially when patients are on antiretroviral therapy (ART). Our aim was to assess the association between OL and virologic failure among HIV/AIDS patients on ART. We conducted a retrospective study of 744 HIV patients who entered care between 2000 and 2006 at the UAB 1917 Clinic. Data was collected for 2 years after enrollment. Prevalence of OL was 35.8%. Oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC) was the most prevalent OL (74.9%). Among …

Contributions Of The Atrial Natriuretic Peptide Gene System To The Relationship Between Pediatric Body Fat, Free Fatty Acids, And Blood Pressure, Amanda Willig

All ETDs from UAB

Elevated blood pressure and nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) in children can lead to increased chronic disease risk during adulthood. The atrial natriuretic peptide precursor A (NPPA) and natiuretic peptide receptor A (NPR1) genes encode for atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and its cell receptor, respectively, and may influence levels of blood pressure and NEFA. Additionally, it is unclear how body composition, physical activity, physical fitness, and racial genetic ancestry influence pediatric NEFA and blood pressure. In order to understand the associations among these factors, five investigations were performed. For experimental aim 1, the association between blood pressure and body composition measures …

Development And Validation Of A Scale To Measure Fear Of Physical Response To Exercise Among Overweight And Obese Adults, Brooks Cotton Wingo

All ETDs from UAB

specified and alteration of both Type I and Type II error rates occurs. We examine

Association Between Birth Outcomes And Aflatoxin B1-Biomarker Levels Among Pregnant Women In Kumasi, Ghana, Faisal Mohammed Barbas Shuaib

All ETDs from UAB

Aflatoxins are fungal metabolites that contaminate staple food crops in many developing countries. Although studies have linked these toxins to adverse health outcomes, few studies have investigated the association between birth outcomes and aflatoxin B1-lysine adduct levels among pregnant women. The objective of this dissertation was to investigate the association between birth outcomes and aflatoxin B1- lysine adduct levels among pregnant women in Kumasi, Ghana. In a cross-sectional study of 755 pregnant women, Aflatoxin B1-lysine adduct (AF-ALB) levels were determined by High Performance Liquid Chromatography. AF-ALB associations were assessed as both continuous and categorical values. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was …

Arm Loss And Regenerative Capacity Of The Common Soft - Bottom Sea Star Luidia Clathrata Exposed To Near -Future Conditions Of Ocean Acidification, Julie B. Schram

All ETDs from UAB

No abstract provided.

Validation Of Bioimpedance Spectroscopy By Assessing Precision And Accuracy Of In Vivo Body Composition In Mice, Matthew S. Carle

All ETDs from UAB

No abstract provided.

O-Glcnac Transferase Modulates Jnk1 And Foxo4 Transcription Factor To Resist Acute Oxidative Stress, Shiuh-Rong Ho

All ETDs from UAB

O-GlcNAcylation is an abundant and dynamic post-translational modification on serine and threonine residues of nuclear and cytoplasmic proteins. O-GlcNAc Transferase (OGT) and Nuclear Cytoplasmic O-GlcNAcase and Acetyltransferase (NCOAT) are the only two enzymes and major regulators in this process. In the past two decades, many studies have demonstrated its important modulation roles in nutrient sensing, protein turnover, cell cycle progression, transcription, translation as well as stress resistance. Among these biological functions, the understanding of O-GlcNAcylation dependent oxidative stress is relatively unknown. This study aims to examine the effects of O-GlcNAcylation on JNK1 and FOXO4 transcription factors under acute oxidative stress …

Cardiometabolic Risk And Risk Perception Among Oklahoma American Indian Women With Previous Gestational Diabetes, Emily Jean Jones

All ETDs from UAB

Introduction: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the number one killer of women in the United States (US). Increasing rates of CVD have been associated with the epidemic rates of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in the US. Minority women, particularly American Indian women, experience a greater burden of health risk factors and significant disparities in health status related to CVD and T2DM. Furthermore, women who have had gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) during pregnancy are at greater risk for these diseases than women who have not had GDM. However, these women often do not perceive themselves to be at risk, or, if …

Increasing The Accuracy Of Dietary Assessments By The Use Of Photogrammetry, David John Brasher

All ETDs from UAB

Dietary assessments are plagued by a host of logistical and accuracy problems. The measurement of food consumed is either prohibitively expensive for logistical reasons, or the accuracy is left to the study subject's ability to measure or guess quantities consumed. This dissertation presents a method by which accuracy problems can be reduced with minimal logistical impact. Previous studies have used single photographs to assist in making food measurements during dietary assessments. These single photographs give a twodimensional representation of the food, with extrapolated three-dimensional data. This dissertation adds the third dimension to the volume calculation through the use of photogrammetry. …

Project-Induced Displacement, Secondary Stressors, And Health, Yue Cao

All ETDs from UAB

It is estimated that 15 million migrants displaced by development projects every year in the world. However, research on health impacts of project-induced displacement is insufficient. The existing literature concerning the causal effect of migration on health is inconclusive due to the selective nature of migration and other methodological problems. This study employs the stress process model as the major theoretical framework, components from Cernea's IRR model as well as Scudder and Colson's framework are also incorporated to examine the short-term health impact of the displacement resulting from China's Three Gorges Dam Project. I also explore whether the displacement's effect …

Determinants Of Self-Efficacy To Seek Care For Tuberculosis And Complete Tuberculosis Treatment Among Hiv-Positive Patients Attending Government Hiv/Aids Clincis In Honduras, Mayra Silvana Arias

All ETDs from UAB

control

Chemically Mediated Macroalgal-Mesograzer Interactions Along The Western Antarctic Peninsula, Craig Farrar Aumack

All ETDs from UAB

In the following dissertation, we explore benthic communities along the Western Antarctic Peninsula, specifically, interactions between the immense macroalgal and mesograzer assemblages and how these relationships are chemically mediated. Despite the widespread production of various chemical feeding deterrents throughout the macroalgal community, the system supports an abundant and diverse array of crustacean amphipods. Gut content analysis and stable isotopic signatures indicate that filamentous macroalgae and epiphytic diatoms probably play an important role as dietary constituents, despite their visible absence in the sub-tidal zones. Subsequent palatability and extract feeding assays revealed that none of the filamentous macroalgal material found in amphipod …

Age Bias In Physicians' Recommendation For Physical Activity, Adherence, And Health Related Quality Of Life Among Individuals With Arthritis, Shamly Austin

All ETDs from UAB

The association between individuals' ages, physicians' recommendations for physical activity, adherence, and health related quality of life among individuals with arthritis was examined using the 2007 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. The sample included 33,071 individuals with self-reported, physician-diagnosed arthritis who were 45 years or older. To answer the research questions, three sets of data were created: a whole sample (n=33,071), those 45-64 years old (n=17,607), and those 65 years or older (n=15,464). The conceptual framework for the study was based on the Behavioral Model of Health Services Utilization. The variables of interests were physicians' recommendations for physical activity, adherence …

The Role Of Wnt5a In Mammary Gland Development, Sarah Baxley

All ETDs from UAB

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) negatively regulates mammary gland development and requires Wnt5a to exert some of these effects on mammary gland development. Wnt5a is a non-canonical signaling Wnt that is expressed in all stages of mammary gland development except lactation. Using slow release pellets containing Wnt5a, as well as Wnt5a null tissue, we previously showed that Wnt5a also acts to limit mammary development. Initial studies revealed a potential role for TGF-beta and Wnt5a in regulating mammary gland progenitor cells, indicating they may act to regulate the stem and progenitor cell population. In order to study the role of Wnt5a on …

Radiographic Damage And Functional Disability In African American Patients With Recent-Onset Rheumatoid Arthritis, Jie Zhang

All ETDs from UAB

we adjust for heterskedasticity using a HCCM estimator, we find no significant evidence

Roles Of Nr4a3 In Insulin Sensitivity In Skeletal Muscle, Xiaolin Zhu

All ETDs from UAB

For the past several decades, the prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes and the metabolic syndrome has been increasing. Insulin resistance is the central pathogenic event for these diseases. We previously reported that the NR4A family of orphan nuclear receptors augments insulin sensitivity in adipocytes. We now found that lentiviral mediated NR4A3 hyper-expression increased insulin stimulated glucose transport (ISGT) in C2C12 myocytes while NR4A3 knock-down exhibited opposite effect. We also examined the effects of prostaglandin A2 (PGA2) on insulin action and NR4A3 trans-activation in C2C12 myocytes. PGA2 augmented ISGT and insulin stimulated AKT phosphorylation in C2C12 myocytes. Importantly, PGA2 treatment led …

The Impact Of Direct And Indirect Experiences On The Development Of Environmental Knowledge, Attitudes, And Behavior, Mat D. Duerden, Peter A. Witt

Faculty Publications

This study employed a mixed-methods design to examine the relationship between nature experience type (e.g., direct and indirect) and learning outcomes (e.g., environmental knowledge, attitudes, and behavior) associated with an environmental education, international immersion program for adolescents. Longitudinal data from 108 participant and 49 comparison group members were analyzed to test the study’s hypotheses. Additionally, qualitative data were analyzed using grounded theory methodology to assess participants’ perceptions of these processes. The findings indicate that environmental knowledge increased more than environmental attitudes during the indirect portion of the program (i.e., preparatory program) whereas the direct portion (i.e., international workshop) produced similar …

Cancer In Louisiana: 2002-2006, Volume 24, Louisiana Tumor Registry, Patricia A. Andrews, Mei-Chin Hsieh, Brent Mumphrey, Lisa Pareti, Mary Namiak, Beth A. Schmidt, Edward S. Peters, Xiao-Cheng Wu, Vivien W. Chen

Policy & Position Papers

Mission:

To collect and report complete, high-quality, and timely population-based cancer data in Louisiana to support cancer research, control, and prevention.

Vision:

To reduce suffering and death from cancer using information collected by the Louisiana Tumor Registry.

History:

Cancer registration in Louisiana began in 1947 at the Charity Hospital Tumor Registry in New Orleans. In 1974, as part of its Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) Program, the National Cancer Institute provided funds for a population-based cancer incidence and survival registry covering Jefferson, Orleans, and St. Bernard parishes. Five years later, the Louisiana Tumor Registry (LTR) was transferred to the …

Faculty Publications 2009, Lsu Health Sciences Center New Orleans

Historical Faculty Publications

This Faculty bibliography contains 806 publications.

Technical Efficiency Of Farmers In Ethiopia: A Stochastic Production Frontier Approach, Askal Ayalew Ali

Masters Theses

This study is to investigate the farmer's efficiency in Ethiopia. The stochastic production function is applied to estimate the technical efficiency of farmers. Using 2006 survey data conducted by the World Bank in collaboration with Ethiopian Economic Policy Research Institute, shows that farmers produce under the production frontier, and the average technical efficiency of the farmers is 62.4 percent. Variation in efficiency comes from many factors, however, this study focuses on extension program participation, education, and land ownership. Lack of extension program and education cause inefficiencies of 59.8 percent and 60.21 percent respectively. Land ownership is found to have mixed …

Influential Factors Contributing To Compliance And/Or Non-Compliance With The Gluten-Free Diet For Celiac Disease Individuals, Jill Barnes

Masters Theses

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the influential factors of compliance and/or non-compliance with the gluten-free diet (GFD) for celiac disease (CD) individuals.

Methods: The data collection instrument was a self-developed survey using kwiksurveys.com. The data were collected via online survey distribution to CD support group facilitators in nine Midwestern states. CD support group facilitators assisted snowball sampling by distributing the online survey to other members of the support groups. Qualitative data from survey question 12 was reviewed for themes and patterns and discussed in a narrative form. Statistical analysis of the data was done using SPSS …

Food Selection Trends And Requirements Of Students Participating In The National School Lunch Program, Patrick Ona

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine if students that participated in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) were receiving an excessive or inadequate amount of macronutrients and micronutrients set by SMI nutrient standards and 2005 Dietary Guidelines. There were four research objectives regarding food selection trends, School Meals Initiative (SMI), 2005 Dietary Guidelines, and competitive foods. The researcher hypothesized the food selections by school-aged children would not meet the SMI nutrient standards and 2005 Dietary Guidelines.

The study was a cross-section observational study that used a self-developed observation checklist. Quantitative data was gathered over the course of 5 …

Does Evolutionary Exposure Mediate Allelopathic Effects?, Nikki Leigh Pisula

Masters Theses

Allelopathy most commonly refers to chemically mediated plant interference, though the effects may range from beneficial to inhibitory. Allelopathy has been suggested as a potential mechanism for invasion success because invasive species may produce allelochemicals that are evolutionarily novel to recipient communities. To test for evolutionary mediation of allelopathy, six target species were grown in a factorial experiment with and without activated carbon or a native allelopathic species, Solidago canadensis (Canada goldenrod). I used activated carbon to remove allelochemicals to separate allelopathic effects from resource competition. The species represented pairs of evolutionary experienced (native - N) and evolutionarily na'ive (non-native …

Nanoporous High Surface Area Silicas With Chelating Groups For Heavy Metal Ion Adsorption From Aqueous Solution, Kothalawalage Nuwan Kothalawala

Masters Theses

Nanoporous high surface area silicas are an ideal substrate for the design of materials with useful properties via chemical surface modification. The adsorption of heavy metals for contaminated water detoxification is one potential application. In this work we have used three different kinds of silica substrates with varying pore structures; commercially available narrow pore and wide pore silica gels, as well as surfactant templated mesoporous SBA-15 exhibiting a relatively narrow pore size distribution. These silicas have each been subjected to post-synthesis modification with an organosilane consisting of ethylenediamine triacetic acid functionalities for chelation/adsorption of metal ions from aqueous solution. The …

Safe At Home? Assessing U.S. Efforts To Protect Youths From The Effects Of Performance-Enhancing Drugs In Sports, Steve Silverberg

Brooklyn Journal of International Law

No abstract provided.

Genetically Modified Food And Informed Consumer Choice: Comparing U.S. And E.U. Labeling Laws, Valery Federici

Brooklyn Journal of International Law

No abstract provided.

Talkin' Bout A Humane Revolution: New Standards For Farming Practices And How They Could Change International Trade As We Know It, Lesley Peterson

Brooklyn Journal of International Law

No abstract provided.

Nutrition Supplementation And Prevention Of Low Birth Weight, Suwapiccha Attavorrarat

Asian Medical Journal and Alternative Medicine

Low birth weight is a major determinant of mortality, morbidity and disability in neonates, infancy andchildhood, Therefore improvements in maternal nutrition and health can increase birth weight, survival and growthof the child including subsequent size and health productivity in adult life.

The mother needs an additional intake of nutrients to achieve optimal fetal growth. This additional intakeis 300 kcal per day more than the normal needs of a non-pregnant woman, that is, a minimum intake of 2,500kcal per day. As previously, the favored hypothesis was that timing maternal supplementation during the third trimesterof pregnancy would be most likely to increase …