Digital Commons Network^™

Maternal Education And Child Nutritional Status In Africa: Mediating Mechanisms, Kiira Fox, Dr. Renata Forste

Journal of Undergraduate Research

While previous research indicates child stunting rates have decreased in the aggregate over the last few decades, malnutrition continues to account for over half of annual child deaths and the stunting of 226 million (Neumann et al.). As national inequality persists, even increasing in certain areas, higher rates of stunting have become concentrated within already disadvantaged populations (Minujin and Delamonica, 2004). Africa, for instance, has particularly low educational attainment, high rates of poverty, a lack of infrastructure and experiences stunting rates as high as 60% in certain areas (Neumann et al.). Although earlier studies have identified many dimensions of disadvantage …

Causes, Consequences, And Treatment Of Osteoporosis In Men, Jameela Banu

Health & Biomedical Sciences Faculty Publications

Men undergo gradual bone loss with aging, resulting in fragile bones. It is estimated that one in five men will suffer an osteoporotic fracture during their lifetime. The prognosis for men after a hip fracture is very grim. A major cause is reduction of free testosterone. Many other factors result in secondary osteoporosis, including treatment for other diseases such as cancer and diabetes. Patients should be screened not only for bone density but also assessed for their nutritional status, physical activity, and drug intake. Therapy should be chosen based on the type of osteoporosis. Available therapies include testosterone replacement, bisphosphonates, …

Analysis Of Local Health Department Factors That Accelerate Population-Based Intervention Strategies: Preliminary Findings, M. Elizabeth Gyllstrom, Kim J. Gearin, William Riley

Frontiers in Public Health Services and Systems Research

Introduction: This practice-based research study capitalized on the statewide implementation of a comprehensive, locally-driven initiative to implement evidence-based policy, system and environmental changes related to obesity and tobacco use. The study examined local health department (LHD) performance and factors such as organizational quality improvement (QI) maturity, structure and governance.

Methods: State health department staff reviewed grant reports and documentation pertaining to all LHD grantees, which collectively represented all 87 counties and 4 cities in Minnesota (MN), in order to designate grantees as either: “Exceeds Expectations,” “Meets Expectations” or “Approaching Expectations.” A study team of state, local and academic partners then …

The Effect Of Household Financial, Time And Environmental Constraints On Very Low Food Security Among Children, Helen H. Jensen, Oleksandr Zhylyevskyy

University of Kentucky Center for Poverty Research Discussion Paper Series

Food insecurity is detrimental to children’s well-being. A better understanding of factors contributing to low and very low food security among children in the United States can guide the design of food assistance programs. We analyze the effects of household characteristics and local food environment attributes, including food prices and availability of food stores and eating places, on children’s food insecurity. We also investigate the effects of these characteristics and attributes on food preparation time. Using Becker’s household production approach, we propose an economic model that formalizes the use of constrained financial and time resources in the household. The model …

A Note On Pigs’ Knowledge Of Hidden Objects, Christian Nawroth, Mirjam Ebersbach, Eberhard Von Borell

Memory Collection

Object permanence is the notion that objects continue to exist even when they are out of observer’s sight. This ability is adaptive for free ranging animals who have to cope with a dangerous and highly changeable environment and allows them to be aware of predators sneaking in their proximity or to keep track of conspecifics or food sources, even when out of sight. Farm animals might also benefit from object permanence because the ability to follow the trajectory of hidden food or objects may lead to a higher predictability of subjects’ environment, which in turn might affect the level of …

Does Selenium Alter The Expression Of The Large T Antigen In Tramp Mice?, Britlyn Orgill, Dr. Merrill Christensen

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in American men. The American Cancer Society predicts that 217,730 cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed and that 32,050 men will die from the disease in the year 2010 (1). Since prostate cancer has a long latency period, it is a prime candidate for dietary prevention. Isoflavones, natural compounds found in soy, and selenium, a trace element, have both been previously shown to have protective effects against prostate cancer. The lab of Dr. Merrill Christensen has been studying the effects of these compounds using the Transgenic Adenocarcinoma of the Mouse Prostate …

Population Genetics And Phylogenetic Context Of Weed Evolution In The Genus Amaranthus: Amaranthaceae), Katherine Waselkov

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

Agricultural weeds have evolved to compete aggressively with domesticated plants in agricultural environments. Although the evolution of invasiveness has been studied extensively in natural ecosystems, few comparable studies have been conducted using agricultural weeds. In this dissertation, I used the genus Amaranthus to examine agricultural weed evolution over different evolutionary time scales, ranging from fitness measurements within a single species to a genus-wide, macroevolutionary analysis.

To explore the recent evolution of agricultural invasiveness, I studied a native Midwestern species, A. tuberculatus: waterhemp), which has become an aggressive agricultural weed only within the last several decades. I used microsatellite markers to …

Potential Synergism Between Antioxidants Found In Blueberries (Vaccinium Cyanococcus), Richard Low, Dr. Tory Parker

Journal of Undergraduate Research

According to a review by Battino et al. (2009), blueberry consumption can regulate blood pressure, inhibit cancer growth, and improve cardiovascular health by preventing plaque buildup in the arteries. Naturally occurring antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables that are thought to stop the chain reactions of harmful free radicals that could lead to chronic disease (Battino et al., 2009). However, human trials testing individual antioxidants supplements found in fruit have not conclusively demonstrated chronic disease prevention (Herrera et al. 2009). Dr. Parker and I hypothesized that one reason whole fruit provides more antioxidant protection than individual antioxidant supplements is that …

Orange Phenolic Compound Consumption Increases Serum Antioxidant Capacity Independent Of Orange Sugar And Ascorbic Acid, Kfir Orgad, Dr. Tory Parker

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Recent scientific data has proposed that the oxidation of low density lipoproteins is the leading cause of cardiovascular disease, and thus premature death, in America. These studies have shown that people who consume more fruits and vegetables are less likely to develop cardiovascular disease as well as certain types of cancer (Lee et al., 1991; Hertog et al., 1993; van’t Veer et al., 2000). Because of this alarming statistic, fruits have been more closely scrutinized in recent research in order to understand the exact nutritional benefits that they offer. Primary emphasis has been placed on phenolic compounds found in fruits. …

Correlation Of Fruit Antioxidant Capacity And Anticancer Effects, Joshua Reber, Dr. Tory Parker

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The human health functionality of antioxidant vitamins and plant phytochemicals has been a topic of interest in recent years. Along with selenium and vitamins A, C, and E are many other phytochemicals which may protect the body from the free radical oxidation of DNA, proteins, lipoproteins, and other macromolecules. The protection provided from such nutrients against free radicals may result in a lower likelihood of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and other degenerative diseases (van’t Veer et al., 2000).

Ecomorphology And Mating Behavior Of Two Species Of Night-Stalking Tiger Beetles, Omus Audouini And O. Dejeanii, Robert Kent Richardson

Dissertations and Theses

Night-stalking tiger beetles (Cicindelinae: Omus) are among the least studied members of the highly diverse Carabid sub-family Cicindelinae, the tiger beetles. Despite populations of Omus being common in the forest floor habitats of the west coast of North America and their conspicuous predatory role within terrestrial arthropod communities, little is known about the biology and ecology of Omus.

Field studies showed that two species of Omus existed in the forested areas of Powell Butte Nature Park, Portland, Oregon, USA: Omus audouiniand O. dejeanii. The co-occurrence of sympatric, and likely syntopic, species allowed for a comparative approach in examining and analyzing …

Autophagy Is Involved In Oligodendroglial Precursor-Mediated Clearance Of Amyloid Peptide, Wenxia Li, Yifen Tang, Zhiqin Fan, Ya Meng, Guang Yang, Jia Luo, Zun-Ji Ke

Internal Medicine Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Accumulation of β-amyloid peptides is an important hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Tremendous efforts have been directed to elucidate the mechanisms of β-amyloid peptides degradation and develop strategies to remove β-amyloid accumulation. In this study, we demonstrated that a subpopulation of oligodendroglial precursor cells, also called NG2 cells, were a new cell type that can clear β-amyloid peptides in the AD transgene mice and in NG2 cell line.

RESULTS: NG2 cells were recruited and clustered around the amyloid plaque in the APPswe/PS1dE9 mice, which is Alzheimer's disease mouse model. In vitro, NG2 cell line and primary NG2 cells engulfed …

Lifestyle Habits : Diet, Physical Activity And Sleep Duration Among Omani Adolescents, Hashem Kilani, Hazzaa Al-Hazzaa, Mostafa I. Musaiger, Abdulrahman

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the lifestyle habits—physical activity (PA), eating habits (EH), and sleep duration (SD)—of Omani adolescents, and to examine gender differences in such variables. Methods: 802 Omani adolescents (442 females and 360 males), aged 15‒18 years were randomly recruited. Anthropometric indices, PA level, and EH and SD were evaluated by the Arab Teenage Lifestyle questionnaire. A semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire for dietary assessment was also administered. Results: The results showed that although the study subjects had a sedentary lifestyle (lack of PA, average of 6.7 hours sleep, and consumption of high calorie foods), they maintained a …

Risk Factors Associated With Denture Stomatitis In Healthy Subjects Attending A Dental School In Southeast Iran, Nader Navabi, Ahmad Gholamhoseinian, Badri Hashemipour, Maryam A.

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Objectives: There is scant information regarding the multifactorial aetiology of denture stomatitis (DS) in the world and, despite its frequency, associated factors are not completely understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the risk factors that may be associated with this lesion. Methods: A total of 70 edentulous patients, all wearing removable dentures, were divided into two groups. The test group comprised 43 patients with DS and the control group comprised 27 subjects with clinically healthy palatal mucosa. A thorough history-taking and physical examination were carried out; the subjects also answered a questionnaire. The serum level of vitamin …

Trash Brings A New Diet Water Conservation In Cape Verde, Africa, Tanner Goff, Dr. Bruce Woolley

Journal of Undergraduate Research

In Sub-Saharan African countries the resource of most significance, we Americans take for granted: water. The African people know this and strive to minimize wasting such a precious resource. However, with little education on how to conserve water, waste is inevitable. The country of Cape Verde is no stranger to a huge water deficit and this water deficit has a direct effect on the diet of the people. Most of the country relies on beans and rice with no variety of vegetables in their diet. The typical Cape Verdeans diet is characterized by “repeated rice meals” and “as the water …

Of Animalcula, Phthisis And Scrofula Historical Insights Into Tuberculosis In The Pre-Koch Era, Ritu Lakhtakia

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

No abstract provided.

Clinical Audit Of Diabetes Care In The Bahrain Defence Forces Hospital, Marwa M. Al-Baharna, David L. Whitford

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Objectives: Primary care audits in Bahrain have consistently revealed a failure to meet recognised standards of delivery of process and outcome measures to patients with diabetes. This study aimed to establish for the first time the quality of diabetes care in a Bahraini hospital setting. Methods: A retrospective clinical audit was conducted of a random sample of patients attending the Diabetes and Endocrine Center at the Bahrain Defence Forces Hospital over a 15-month period which ended in June 2010. The medical records of 287 patients with diabetes were reviewed electronically and manually for process and outcome measures, and a statistical …

Burns : The Neglected Epidemic In Oman, Sultan Al-Shaqsi, Deena Alasfoor

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

No abstract provided.

A Logarithmic Formula To Describe The Relationship Between The Increased Radiosensitivity At Low Doses And The Survival At 2 Gray, Faika A. Azooz, Suzan K. Hashim

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Objectives: Intrinsic radiosensitivity at doses used in radiotherapy is linked to hypersensitivity (HRS) and increased radio resistance (IRR) at low doses. The aim of this study was to explore this relationship. Methods: Survival curves for 18 human tumour cell lines were analysed, using two models to fit the data points in order to extract the necessary parameters relevant for this study. Results: The IRR ratio αs/αr versus the survival at 2 gray (Gy) can be described by a logarithmic relation which leads to a series of straight lines. Conclusion: The relationship obtained implies that there is a direct link between …

Clemson Commencement Program, August 2013, Clemson University

Clemson Commencement Programs

No abstract provided.

Challenges Of Containing New Hiv Infections In Ethiopia: Unacknowledged Transmission Route, Dessu Sam

Capstone Collection

As the main goal of the Partnership Framework (PF) between the Government of Ethiopia (GoE) and the U.S. Government (USG), Ethiopia has set a national target of reducing new HIV infections by 50% by the end of 2014 (National Target). Funded by the USG, the PF provides a five-year joint strategic plan (2010-2014) for cooperation to support Ethiopia’s national HIV/AIDS response (PEPFAR, 2010). Ethiopia has an estimated adult prevalence of 1.5% and about a million people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) (ECSA & IFC, 2012), among countries most affected by the epidemic. The International Labor Organization (ILO) projection for 2015 indicates …

Selenium’S Effect On Insulin Resistance, Scott Brunson, Chad Hancock

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Due to dramatic increases in type II diabetes, studies on insulin resistance are especially applicable to this current health issue. Previous epidemiological studies examining selenium’s effect on prostate cancer observed a possible correlation between increased risk for type II diabetes mellitus and increased selenium levels in humans (Lippman, S.M.2009). However, in other studies contradictory results have been recorded. Due to these inconsistencies we are investigating the effects of selenium on insulin resistance. If increased dietary selenium causes insulin resistance, we will examine the mechanism by which this occurs.

August 9, 2013 Ereporter, University Of Alabama At Birmingham

eReporter (campus newsletter)

No abstract provided.

Crw1 - A Novel Maize Mutant Highly Susceptible To Foliar Damage By The Western Corn Rootworm Beetle., Bala Puchakayala Venkata, Nick Lauter, Xu Li, Clint Chapple Dr., Christian H. Krupke, Gurmukh Johal, Stephen Moose

Department of Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Western corn rootworm (WCR), Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), is the most destructive insect pest of corn (Zea mays L.) in the United States. The adult WCR beetles derive their nourishment from multiple sources including corn pollen and silks as well as the pollen of alternate hosts. Conversely, the corn foliage is largely neglected as a food source by WCR beetles, leading to a perception of a passive interaction between the two. We report here a novel recessive mutation of corn that was identified and named after its foliar susceptibility to corn rootworm beetles (crw1). The …

Osteopontin Expression During The Acute Immune Response Mediates Reactive Synaptogenesis And Adaptive Outcome, Julie Chan

Theses and Dissertations

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a worldwide epidemic as the number of victims living with the resulting cognitive and physical impairment continues to rise, principally due to limited treatment options which fail to address its multifaceted sequelae. By approaching TBI therapy from a molecular standpoint, we have the opportunity to develop a better understanding of the mechanisms which prevent effective recovery. With this information, we can move toward the identification of novel therapeutic treatments which target specific molecules to improve patient outcome following TBI. Here, we have focused on the therapeutic potential of osteopontin (OPN), an extracellular matrix (ECM) protein …

Beginner's Guide To Colorectal Cancer Research, Kayla M. Walker

Summer Training Program in Cancer Immunotherapy

Introduction

For a while now obesity has been a health care concern for people all over the world. In the many years that obesity research has been conducted, various things have been taken into consideration including diet, exercise and medical history. In relatively recent years, researchers have expanded their definition of physical activity levels to include both the amounts of occupational physical activity and leisure time activity that a person partakes in.

The 2002 census occupation system assigned a 4 digit Metabolic equivalent (MET) to 509 separate occupations. These codes are particularly helpful for statistics agencies that need to collect …

Health Policy & Management News, Georgia Southern University

Health Policy & Community Health: News & Publications (2011-2018)

• College Students and Low-Carbohydrate Diets

Jefferson And Japan: Working Together To Advance Best Practices In Healthcare Education And Research, Yumiko Radi

Population Health Matters (Formerly Health Policy Newsletter)

No abstract provided.

Population Health Matters, Summer 2013, Vol. 26, No. 3, Download Full Pdf

Population Health Matters (Formerly Health Policy Newsletter)

No abstract provided.

Interactive Effects Of Ethnic Identity And A Cognitive Behavioral Stress Management Intervention On Subjective And Objective Stress In Low-Income Minority Women Living With Hiv, Corina Reyes Lopez

Open Access Dissertations

The HIV/AIDS epidemic is more prevalent among minority ethnic groups, with mortality rates highest among African-American women. Additionally, low-income minority women with a positive HIV diagnosis experience a variety of stressors that influence their psychological and physical well-being. Research has found that ethnic identity, an intrapersonal resiliency factor, is associated with lower perceived stress in low-income minority women living with HIV, in part through greater levels of coping self-efficacy and social support. Given the benefits of group-based interventions in reducing stress in HIV positive populations, it is important to understand whether ethnic identity influences the efficacy of these interventions in …