Digital Commons Network^™

Orchard Floor Management, Marc A. Rowley

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Managing fruit orchards involves both the management of the orchard trees, and the orchard floor. Orchard floor management is vital to tree health, yield and fruit quality. Current standard management practices include maintaining a vegetation free tree row and a grass-covered alleyway. This system effectively controls weeds and creates a favorable environment for the fruit trees. However, limitations to standard orchard floor practices are that the grass alleyway provides no nutrient benefit, and current practices do not readily lend themselves to organic management. Alternative in-row and alleyway systems are requisite to creating improved orchard floor management systems.

Three different approaches …

Effect Of Voluntary Exercise And Diet On The Unfolded Protein Response In The Brain Of Mice, Yu Ho Kim

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The medical costs for many chronic diseases are increasing dramatically and placing a major financial burden on nations and individuals in both developed and developing countries. A number of chronic diseases, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes and some neurodegenerative diseases are all attenuated by a history of physical activity suggesting that they may be interconnected in some way. It has been suggested that cellular stress is a major factor promoting these chronic diseases.

Cellular stress occurs in a specific compartment within the cell, the endoplasmic reticulum, whose normal function is in the synthesis and folding of proteins into the …

The Interrelationship Between The Bio- And Sequence Stratigraphy Of The Middle Cambrian Spence Shale Of Northern Utah And Southern Idaho, Eva Lyon

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This project was undertaken with the objective of discerning the relationship between sea level change and changes in the fauna of the Spence Shale. A combination of field and lab work was employed to undertake this research. The Spence Shale is rich in fossils from the earliest period of visible life on this planet. It provides a unique window onto the evolution of life and changes in the Earth at this time. It is important to study this relationship between sea level and life changes as these conditions are constantly changing, particularly in this day and age. A better understanding …

Effect Of Pseudoephedrine On 800-Meter Run Times Of Ncaa Division I Women Athletes, Caroline Berry

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Pseudoephedrine is an over-the-counter drug commonly used as a decongestant, but also thought to have ergogenic effects. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has prohibited large doses (> 150 μg∙ml^-1) of pseudoephedrine, while the National College Athletic Association (NCAA) does not include it on the banned substance list. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of body weight dosing of pseudoephedrine on 800-m run times of NCAA female runners. Fifteen NCAA female track runners volunteered to participate in the randomized, double blind, crossover design. In trials that were a week apart, participants were given both 2.5 …

Consequences Of Contact: An Evaluation Of Childhood Health Patterns Using Enamel Hypoplasias Among The Colonial Maya Of Tipu, Amanda R. Harvey

Master's Theses

Located in western Belize, Tipu was occupied from 1541-1704. This Colonial Maya population from a Spanish visita mission church was analyzed to investigate health disturbances associated with European contact. Dental defect called enamel hypoplasias were scored to assess childhood health. Standard methods of scoring (Buikstra and Ubelaker 1994) were employed to assess frequency, severity, and type of episode in the permanent anterior dentition. For analysis, 325 individuals were placed into age groups of subadults (6-17 years), younger adults (18-35 years), and older adults (36-50+ years). The population was also considered for differences by sex and tooth type.

Results showed a …

Tick Infestations And Their Consequences For Migratory Songbirds During Spring Stopover, Johnny Michael Sellers Jr.

Master's Theses

Migratory birds face a number of challenges during their seasonal movement from tropical/sub-tropical Central and South America to more temperate North America. Maintaining health during migration is of particular concern. This study seeks to understand how haematophageous ectoparasites, such as ticks (Ixodida), impact host body condition as they feed on passerines during migration. We hypothesized that foraging location would impact tick acquisition by migrants and that tick burdens during migration would negatively impact body condition. We surveyed 2,064 birds during spring 2009 and 2010 and found that 2.4% of the surveyed birds were infested with one or more …

The Effect Of Acceptance Training On Psychological And Physical Health Outcomes In Elders With Chronic Conditions, Patricia Mcdonald, Jaclene Zauszniewski, Abir K. Bekhet, Laura Dehelian, Diana L. Morris

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

This pilot trial investigated the short and long-term effects of Acceptance Training (ACT) intervention on acceptance, perceived health, functional status, anxiety, and depression in elders with chronic conditions living in retirement communities (RCs). The ACT intervention combined Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy with music, relaxation, and guided imagery during six weekly 2-hour sessions. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 16 African-American and 46 White elders across four data collection points in six randomly selected RCs using well-established measures of perceived health, functional status, anxiety, and depression, and a measure of acceptance of chronic conditions adapted from a previous measure of acceptance of …

Probiotic Bacterial Strains Differentially Modulate Macrophage Cytokine Production In A Strain-Dependent And Cell Subset-Specific Manner., N. Habil, W. Al-Murrani, J. Beal, A. D. Foey

School of Biomedical Sciences

Gut mucosal macrophages play a pivotal role in driving mucosal immune responses, resulting in either activation of inflammatory immune responses to pathogenic challenge or tolerance to beneficial luminal contents such as food and commensal bacteria. Macrophage responses elicited are dependent on tissue environment and the resulting cell subset, where homeostatic macrophages resemble the M2 macrophage subset and inflammatory macrophages resemble M1s. Probiotics can modulate macrophage function with outcome dependent on subset present. Using a THP-1 monocyte cell line-derived model of CD14high/low M1 and M2 macrophages, the aim of this study was to investigate the immunomodulatory effects of a panel of …

Butyrate Regulation Of Distinct Macrophage Subsets: Opposing Effects On M1 And M2 Macrophages, Ad Foey

School of Biomedical Sciences

Mucosal tolerance is central to efficient gastrointestinal tract function, tolerating food and commensal bacteria, whilst maintaining immune responsiveness to pathogens. Mucosal macrophages play a pivotal role in tolerance; whereas in inflammatory bowel disease, dysfunctional macrophages lead to tolerance breakdown, whereby commensals perpetuate inflammation. Macrophage subsets however, determine effector function: M1s are pro-inflammatory whereas M2s are antiinflammatory/regulatory. In addition to commensal bacteria, butyrate, a short chain fatty acid probiotic metabolite, may also modulate macrophage-mediated tolerance. The human monocytic cell line, THP-1, was used to investigate butyrate immunoregulation in M1 and M2 macrophages, generated by monocyte differentiation in the presence of PMA …

Multi-Level Partnerships Support A Comprehensive Faith-Based Health Promotion Program, Annie Hardison-Moody, Carolyn Dunn, David Hall, Lorelei Jones, Jimmy Newkirk, Cathy Thomas

Journal of Extension

This article examines the role of multi-level partnerships in implementing Faithful Families Eating Smart and Moving More, a faith-based health promotion program that works with low-resource faith communities in North Carolina. This program incorporates a nine-lesson individual behavior change program in concert with policy and environmental change. We offer an overview of the program, an evaluation of its effects on individual behavior changes and policy, and environment and practice changes and provide suggestions on lessons learned for Extension professionals who wish to partner with faith communities to promote nutrition and physical activity.

Online Nutrition Education: Enhancing Opportunities For Limited-Resource Learners, Patty Case, Mary Cluskey, Jeff Hino

Journal of Extension

Delivering nutrition education using the Internet could allow educators to reach larger audiences at lower cost. Low-income adults living in a rural community participated in focus groups to examine their interest in, experience with, and motivators to accessing nutrition education online. This audience described limited motivation in seeking formal nutrition education. However, they were interested in relevant, compelling tools emphasizing cooking and saving money. The likelihood of using the Internet for food/nutrition information was influenced by website characteristics. The insights from the study will help educators design online tools that capture and sustain the interest of low-income clientele.

An Assessment Of Current Feeding Practices In Louisiana Dairy Farms, C Leonardi, Vr Moreira, Rd Bardwell, Me Mccormick, M. Autin, B. Perez, M. C. Martinez

Journal of Extension

A survey of producers was conducted to determine feeding practices on Louisiana dairy farms. A 38.5% response rate among dairy farmers was obtained. Declared herd size averaged 108 Holstein milking cows producing 15,613 lbs/cow/year. Most producers relied on pastures as primary forage source for the cows. Pastures were supplemented with concentrates offered twice daily. Most farmers formulated rations and reported knowing dietary protein, but less than 20% of the respondents acknowledged dietary P content. Producers and company nutritionists should be targeted by Extension programs intended to inform about P feeding recommendations and environmental effects of excess P.

Spartan Daily November 30, 2011, San Jose State University, School Of Journalism And Mass Communications

Spartan Daily (School of Journalism and Mass Communications)

Volume 137, Issue 48

Removing Aluminum From Solution Using Chelating Compounds And Immobilized Tethered Chelators, Robert A. Yokel, Wesley R. Harris, Christopher D. Spilling, Chang-Guo Zhan

UMSL Patents

Methods are described for removing aluminum from a solution using novel di- and tripodal compounds as chelators.

For the most up-to-date information about these patents, including the availability of Certificates of Correction, be sure to check the United States Patent and Trademark Office's free, publicly accessible database: Patent Public Search https://ppubs.uspto.gov/pubwebapp/static/pages/landing.html

Using Lectinmicroarrays To Identify Regulatory Mechanisms For Mammalian Glycosylation, John F. Rakus

Chemistry Faculty Research

Glycosylation involves the post-translational addition of carbohydrates to protein molecules and is an intricate and indispensable biochemical process. Study of this complicated network of interactions is hindered by the lack of a coding template analogous to the genetic code, and by the vast structural complexity inherent to carbohydrate polymers. We use lectins (non-enzymatic carbohydrate-binding proteins of non-immunological origin) as microarray probes to identify carbohydrate features expressed on cellular surfaces. Specifically, we utilized lectin microarray technology to investigate the differences in carbohydrates expressed by the cell lines of the Nation Cancer Institute’s NCI-60 panel. Our investigation identified tissue-specific expression differences in …

Removing Aluminum From Solution Using Chelating Compounds And Immobilized Tethered Chelators, Robert A. Yokel, Wesley R. Harris, Christopher D. Spilling, Chang-Guo Zhan

Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Patents

Methods are described for removing aluminum from a solution using novel di- and tripodal compounds as chelators.

Autoimmune Enteropathy With A Cd8+ Cd7- T-Cell Small Bowel Intraepithelial Lymphocytosis: Case Report And Literature Review, Shrinivas Bishu, Violeta Arsenescu, Eun Y. Lee, H. David Vargas, Willem J. S. De Villiers, Razvan Arsenescu

Surgery Faculty Publications

Background

Adult onset autoimmune enteropathy (AIE) is a rare condition characterized by diarrhea refractory to dietary therapy diagnosed in patients with evidence of autoimmune conditions. Auto-antibodies to gut epithelial cells and other tissues are commonly demonstrated. Despite increasing awareness, the pathogenesis, histologic, immunologic and clinical features of AIE remain uncertain. There remains controversy regarding the diagnostic criteria, the frequency and types of auto-antibodies and associated autoimmune conditions, and the extent and types of histologic and immunologic abnormalities. CD4+ T-cells are thought to at least responsible for this condition; whether other cell types, including B- and other T-cell subsets are involved, …

Informal Support To First-Parents After Childbirth: A Qualitative Study In Low-Income Suburbs Of Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, Columba Mbekenga, Andrea B. Pembe, Kyllike Christensson, Elisabeth Darj, Pia Olsson

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Background: In Tanzania, and many sub-Saharan African countries, postpartum health programs have received less attention compared to other maternity care programs and therefore new parents rely on informal support. Knowledge on how informal support is understood by its stakeholders to be able to improve the health in families after childbirth is required. This study aimed to explore discourses on health related informal support to first-time parents after childbirth in low-income suburbs of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Methods: Thirteen focus group discussions with first-time parents and female and male informal supporters were analysed by discourse analysis.

Results: The dominant discourse was …

Social Ecological Constraints To Park Use In Communities With Quality Access, J. Aaron Hipp, Ravikumar Chockalingam, Deepti Adlakha

Center for Social Development Research

Evidence correlates physical activity, psychological restoration, and social health to proximity to parks and sites of recreation. The purpose of this study was to identify perceived constraints to park use in low-income communities facing significant health disparities, with access to underutilized parks. We used a series of focus groups with families, teens, and older adults in neighborhoods with similar demographic distribution and access to parks over 125 acres in size. Constraints to park use varied across age groups as well as across social ecological levels, with perceived constraints to individuals, user groups, communities, and society. Policies and interventions aimed at …

Studies On The Adherence Properties Of Plant Lectins And Bacterial Adhesins And Their Inhibition By Prebiotic Oligosaccharides And Bovine Colostrum Fractions, Maria X. Maldonado-Gomez

Department of Food Science and Technology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

To initiate colonization and infection, most microbial pathogens must first recognize and adhere to cells in the host tissues. Adherence inhibition, therefore, can be used as a strategy for preventing infectious disease. In this research, we developed a simplified model using plant lectins and HEp-2 tissue culture cells to simulate bacterial adhesins-receptors interactions. The effect of lectin ligands and two prebiotic carbohydrates, galactooligosaccharide (GOS) and polydextrose (PDX) was measured with this approach. Lectins that were able to bind to the target cells were inhibited in the presence of the cognate ligands and at least one of the prebiotic carbohydrates. The …

Cseas Weekly Bulletin (November 28, 2011), Center For Southeast Asian Studies

CSEAS Bulletin

No abstract provided.

Commonwealth Times 2011-11-28

Commonwealth Times, 1969-

No abstract provided.

Volume 11, Issue 42: November 28, 2011, Women's Studies & Gender Studies Program

Women's Studies & Gender Studies: Digest Magazine

No abstract provided.

Critical Thinking Skills In Allied Health Students, Marcia Yvette Sharp

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

This study examines the critical thinking skills of allied health students(AHS) at a southeastern university. A survey methodology was utilizted to investigate the critical thinking skills of AHS in cytotechnology, dental hygiene, health informatics and information management, and medical technology disciplines. The Health Sciences Reasoning Test (HSRT) was the survey instrument used to measure students' critical thinking skill level. The survey was administered to 57 graduating seniors in the College of Allied Health Sciences class of 2011. Five research questions guided the study: 1. What is the critical thinking skill level of allied health students at a southeastern university (strong, …

Dietary Fiber Consumption And Insulin Resistance: The Role Of Body Fat And Physical Activity, Charity B. Breneman

Theses and Dissertations

Background: This study was conducted to determine the association between fiber intake and insulin resistance in 264 women using a cross-sectional design. Methods: Insulin resistance was indexed using HOMA-IR (fasting insulin (μU/mL)×fasting glucose (mg/dL)/405). HOMA-IR values were log transformed. Fiber and energy consumption were assessed using 7-day weighed food records. Fiber was expressed as grams per 1000 kilocalories. Body fat percentage (BF%) was measured using the BOD POD and physical activity (PA) was ascertained using Actigraph accelerometers worn for 7 consecutive days. Results: (Mean±SD) age: 40.1±3.0 years, glucose: 86.7±5.9 mg/dL; insulin: 7.1±4.3 μU/mL; HOMA-IR: 1.5±1.0; fiber intake …

Comparing The Efficacy Of Two Cognitive Dissonance Interventions For Eating Pathology: Are Online And Face-To-Face Interventions Equally Effective?, Kasey Serdar

Theses and Dissertations

Clinical and subclinical eating pathology are common, especially among female undergraduates. Such problems are often chronic and associated with a range of negative medical and psychological outcomes. Thus, it is important to develop effective prevention programs to reduce eating disorder risk. Numerous studies suggest that dissonance-based prevention programs are the most successful in reducing eating disorder risk factors, however, such programs might not be convenient for students limited by scheduling restraints or geographic proximity. Further, some students may be reluctant to attend such groups due to lack of anonymity. One way to address these potential barriers is to adapt dissonance-based …

Sperm Allocation And Sociosexual Behavior In Meadow Voles, Ashlee Anne Vaughn

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Meadow voles, Microtus pennsylvanicus, are microtine rodents that inhabit grasslands in the temperate zone of northeastern and central North America. During the breeding season, males inhabit large overlapping home ranges that encompass the territories of one or more females. Males and females are promiscuous and males compete with other males for mating opportunities with females. The threat of this competition varies depending on the presence of a rival, the number of rivals, and the quality of a rival. Male and female meadow voles scent mark and conspecifics use the information contained in these scent marks to locate mates and rivals. …

Binning Metagenomic Data By Cssr, Rekha Bhaskarabhatla

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Metagenomics is the study of microbes in their natural environments without the need for isolation and lab cultivation. The DNA fragments obtained from sequencing of a sample of mixed species requires taxonomic characterization called binning. My research concerns binning of metagenomic data using a novel approach. Each genomic sequence was codified based on their Cistronic Stop Signal Ratio (CSSR) values. Since the genic CSSR values of phylogenetically related organisms often share a definable pattern, a neural network was trained to recognize the genic CSSR patterns of known species.The trained neural network was then used to cluster the CSSR values from …

Caregiver, Physician, And Nurse Preferences Of Nutritional Support In Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, Marissa Tracey Adams

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Objective: This study looked at caregivers', physicians', and nurses' preferences of types of nutrition support. Many cancer patients are given enteral or parenteral nutrition support because they cannot obtain nutrients orally.Design: This is a qualitative study which examined caregivers', physicans', and nurses' preferred type of nutrition support, feelings toward each type, goals regarding nutrition, and how the medical team could help meet those goals. Subjects: A total of 71 caregivers, physicians, and nurses from the hematopoietic stem cell transplant unit at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital were surveyed, of which were 17 males and 54 females. The ages ranged from …

Dietary Food Fortified With Orotic Acid And Liver Function, Yohanes Buang

Makara Journal of Science

The effects of dietary food fortified with orotic acid (1.0%) on liver function were studied in rats. The rats fed with orotic acid promoted liver triglyceride content markedly, that was 5-fold higher than that of the control. The liver malondialdehyde (MDA) content increased by 10%, but the gluthation peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity decreased by 50%. The serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities increased by 25% and 30%, respectively. Therefore, the decreased GSH-Px activity was associated with the promotions of AST, ALT, and the liver MDA levels. In conclusion: dietary orotic acid promotes lipid peroxidation but reduces the rate …